Description

The ‘Black Heart’ tree mallow is a hybrid of Lavatera assurgentiflora and Lavatera venosa, a Mexican species. It forms a mounding shrub to about 6 feet high and 8 feet wide. The leaves are a medium green – about the color of a healthy lawn – and similar to a maple in shape. ‘Black Heart’ is so named because of the dark purple flower color. Compared to ‘Purisima’, another hybrid of the same parentage, ‘Black Heart’ has smaller, darker leaves and a darker flower. ‘Black Heart’ accepts a variety of soils. When grown away from the immediate coast, occasional water and afternoon shade seem best. I have found that all Lavatera are tolerant of occasional winter temperatures in the mid-twenty degrees F. ‘Black Heart’ has done quite well in San Jose, CA.