Malope

Malope: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Upright, branching annual about 90 cm tall and 30 cm wide.

Foliage

Heart-shaped to lobed, mid-green and slightly hairy; the upper leaves are more deeply cut.

Flower

Funnel-shaped, 6–8 cm, with five petals and a small column of stamens in the centre. July to September.

Colour

Pink to purple with dark veins; white and carmine-red cultivars also exist.

Roots

A taproot: it dislikes being transplanted, so disturb the roots as little as possible.

Flowering: July–September · Sowing: March–May · Plants: May

Why grow it?

• Large, showy funnel flowers from July to September on an annual that reaches full size in a single season.
• An excellent cut flower: the buds open one after another, so a stem keeps flowering for days in the vase.
• Bees and bumblebees readily visit the open flowers.
• Easy from seed and undemanding, even on poor to ordinary soil.
• Adds height and volume at the back of a summer border or a cut-flower row.

Malope: where does it grow best?

• Full sun for the richest flowering and the sturdiest stems.
• Ordinary garden soil: sand, loam or clay, acid to chalky; well-drained is best.
• Moderately moist; it tolerates a short dry spell but flowers better with regular water.
• Allow 30–40 cm between plants. Shelter from strong wind or give support, because the tall stems lean over.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal

Size

0.9 m tall, 0.3 m wide

Hardiness

Tolerates light frost (to -3 °C)

Goes well with

• Cosmos: Airy flowers and fine foliage contrast with the large funnel flowers.
• Larkspur: Blue spikes that suit pink and white malopes.
• Marigold: Orange and pink flowers together give a warm summer picture.
• Agastache: Blue-purple flowers that fill in around the base of the tall stems.

Malope: when and how to plant it?

Plant in May.

1. Sow in April–May straight where it is to flower, or in March indoors in separate pots at about 15–18 °C.
2. Rake the soil fine and level, sow about 1 cm deep, firm it down and keep it moist until the seedlings appear.
3. Plant out young plants in May, after the last night frost, with the root ball intact and without damaging the roots.
4. Thin out or space plants 30–40 cm apart.
5. Water in after planting and add a thin layer of mulch if you like, to keep the soil moist.

Care

Water

Keep seedlings and young plants moist. After that, water only in prolonged drought, at the base of the plant.

Feeding

Rarely needed. On poor soil, a little organic fertiliser or compost in June is enough.

Support

In a windy garden, push twigs or a net in beside the plants; the tall stems blow over otherwise.

Deadheading

Remove spent flowers regularly and cut blooms for the vase: new buds keep forming until September.

Clearing

In October pull the plants up and compost them, unless they have rust.

Tip: Sow in place rather than in pots, because the taproot dislikes transplanting. If you do start them early, use separate pots and plant out with the whole root ball.

Malope: when to prune it?

When: An annual is not pruned; just cut flowers for the vase or remove spent ones after flowering.

How:

• Cut stems for the vase in the morning, just before the first bud opens or as soon as it has opened.
• Remove spent flowers to prolong the display.
• Leave a few flowers if you want to collect seed or allow self-sowing.
• Pull the plant up in autumn and tidy the bed.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Sowing

In April–May in place, or in March indoors in pots. Sow about 1 cm deep; seeds germinate in 1–2 weeks.

Saving seed

Let a few flowers ripen. When the seed heads are brown and dry, pick them and store the seed cool and dry for next year.

Malope: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −3 °C: protect in harsh winters.

• An annual: the plant dies in autumn. Young plants tolerate a light frost down to about −3 °C.
• Store seed in a paper envelope in a cool, dry, dark place.
• If seed falls on the ground, seedlings may appear in spring.

Diseases and pests

• Rust: Orange-brown pustules under the leaves, especially in damp weather. Remove affected leaves, space plants generously and do not put them on the compost heap.
• Slugs: Young seedlings are soon eaten. Search for them in the evening or lay a barrier of coarse sand or crushed shells.
• Toppling: Tall stems lean over in wind or rain. Support them early with twigs or a net.
• Aphids: On young shoots and buds. Rinse them off with water or let ladybirds do the work.

Through the year

• March: Sow indoors in separate pots.
• April: Sow directly outdoors.
• May: Plant out after the last frost. Sow more if needed.
• June: Put supports in. Watch for slugs.
• July: Flowering begins. Cut for the vase.
• August: Full flower. Remove spent flowers.
• September: Last flowers. Collect seed if wanted.
• October: Clear the plants. Store seed.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• Malope belongs to the mallow family (Malvaceae), like hibiscus, hollyhock and cotton.
• The dark veins in the flower guide insects towards the nectar.