This plant has been with us for years as an annual that reseeds rather freely. It has a growth habit that is unique among our other plants. All four of the pictures shown here were taken today. All of these plants are in the same planting bed within a few feet of each other. Each seed sprouts according to some unknown schedule and at widely different times from the others. The tiny plant is just now getting underway while some nearby are in flower.
These larger plants are just inches to the right of the first plant shown. No flowers appear on these plants yet but the Japanese beetles are having a field day on the leaves. One plant is caged since our herd of deer also feed on these plants.
Most of the plants are at this stage of growth. Flowers are open in abundance and seed clusters are in the early stages of development. Here again we can cage out the deer but nothing will keep the beetles at bay.
We do not know the exact identity of this plant. Ingaborg emigrated to this country from Germany between the World Wars. Our first plant was a gift from her and we have always called it Inga's mallow. Some visitors think that it is a hollyhock but we are holding on to the tag mallow. Not knowing the proper name of the plant is a rather small issue. Its colors are intense and we always remember Ingaborg when looking at these flowers. Her gift to us will likely live on after we have left this place.
3 comments:
I sometimes go past Ingaborg's home and it looks empty which saddens me. I have great memories of her rambling around her place, sharing her wealth of plant knowledge and enthusiasm so easily. She introduced me to many plants such as mache (sp?). The last I knew she moved south ( to FL?) to be nearer her children...but that was quite awhile ago. I'm glad her plants florish in your garden.
http://www.perennials.com/plants/malva-sylvestris-zebrina.html
So pretty! I looked online and thought it looked a lot like Malva sylvestris zebrina as well. Love the flowers on it!
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