Anisodontea–commonly called cape mallow–is a quick-growing woody-perennial or shrub that bears spray of bowl-shaped pink or purplish-pink bowl-shaped flowers that look much like miniature hollyhocks. Anisodontea has an open and freely branching habit. The ovate and often 3-palmate leaves are tender and soft green. In warm, not hot, weather Anisodontea fills out nicely and can … Read more
A garden is full of life. It’s natural to have all kinds of insects buzzing around. Flies, beetles, bees, there are good and bad. So what about spider mites? Are they good bugs, or are they harmful to plants? The African mallow shrub (Anisodontea capensis) is admired for its colorful, hibiscus-like blooms. However, these ornamental … Read more
Gnats can be a nuisance for any gardener, but they seem especially drawn to African mallow shrubs As the weather warms up, you may start to notice small flies buzzing around the leaves and flowers of your prized mallows Though mostly harmless, gnats can damage plants by spreading fungal diseases. Their swarms can also ruin … Read more