Plant Care African mallow

African mallow

About African mallow

Cape Mallow is an easy to grow upright evergreen subshrub that blooms profusely from spring until frost or all year long in southern temperate climates. Cape Mallows prefer morning sun and partial shade in the afternoon. The dense foliage makes it a good plant to trim into a tree-form topiary specimen. The dwarf varieties are well suited for container planting.

Taxonomy

Anisodontea capensis
Anisodontea
Malvaceae
Malvales

Also known as

African mallow, dwarf hibiscus, cape mallow and false mallow

How to care for African mallow

Water

How often to water your African mallow

Water needs for African mallow
0.5 cups
every 9

African mallow needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
Light

Check the growing potential in your area

A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for African mallow in your home

Light needs and placement for plant African mallow: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

African mallow love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

African mallow does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of African mallow in your home 🏡.

Nutrients

How to fertilize African mallow

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for African mallow: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your African mallow after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

FAQs
Difficulty Level

African mallow is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!


Water Needs
Sunlight Needs
Toxicity
Soil
Fertilizer
Growth Pattern
Growing Outdoors
Propagation

Care Summary for African mallow

African mallow


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

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