How do bloom times differ from North to South?: Lavatera

» jfinn - Lavatera

I'm assuming the reader has planted a Lavatera trimestris cultivar such as 'Loveliness' or 'Mont Blanc' and not a shrubby type like L. thuringiaca. If so, it should be starting to bloom. Typically, sowing to bloom time on this species is about 3 to 3 1/2 months. I would try feeding the plant with a bloom booster type of fertilizer, low in nitrogen, high in phosphorus and potassium. Miracle-Grow with a formulation of 15-30-15 would probably do nicely.
Since it's listed as a hardy annual, this plant, if grown in a sheltered location, would probably make it through a typical Daytona Beach winter, unless cut down by a freeze. However, in my experience, Lavatera is an insect and disease attractor- at the end of the season it looks so pathetic one looks forward to adding it to the compost pile. Its ratty appearance coincides with our summer rainy season, running from June through September. Daily thunderstorms and humidity approaching 100% encourage powdery mildew and other types of leaf spot fungus. It's not a plant recommended for Florida- but what the heck - with some coddling, and good air circulation it can make it here. I grow 'Loveliness' myself for the flowers, which are excellent cut. Surprisingly, (at least to me!) Japanese beetles, which annihilated my Lavatera trimestris and thuringiaca in Virginia, seem to be absent here.

-- posted by jfinn