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.

Calculate water needs of African mallow

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

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

African mallow prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.


☀️ Sunlight Needs

African mallow requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

African mallow is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.


🪴 Soil

African mallow does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!


💩 Fertilizer

African mallow is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

African mallow grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
African mallow can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.


🌱 Propagation

The seeds of African mallow can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.


🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in African mallow, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for African mallow

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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