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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Malvaceae (w/Bombacaceae & Sterculeacea) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Clear Pink |
| Bloomtime: Year-round |
| Parentage: (A. x hypomandarum x A. scabrosa?) |
| Height: 6-8 feet |
| Width: 4-6 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Anisodontea 'Tara's Pink' (Cape Mallow) - An upright evergreen shrub to 6 to 8 feet tall by 4 feet wide with inch long 3 lobed denticulate leaves and inch and a half wide pink mallow flowers with darker red-pink centers that are produced year round. Plant in full to part sun and water occasionally to infrequently - a low water requiring ("drought tolerant") plant. Hardy to 20 degrees F (it weathered the winter 1990 cold nights down to 18 ° F) . This plant was a spontaneous seedling hybrid, presumably between Anisodontea x hypomandarum (which is presumed to be a hybrid between Anisodontea capensis and A. scabrosa) and Anisodontea scabrosa that occurred in the San Marcos Growers' test garden where both of these plants were growing in close proximity. The foliage is larger and more lush than the plant we had as a Gary Hammer introduction of Anisodontea x hypomandarum, and the larger flowers are a deeper pink. The seedling in our garden grew to over 8 feet tall by 6 feet wide. We named this plant 'Tara's Pink' in honor (and now in memory) of Tara, the Rhodesian Ridgeback who used to roam the nursery garden. This plant was introduced by San Marcos Growers in 1993 and has since been grown by many other nurseries. We later introduced 'Tara's Wonder', which was presumed to be a hybrid between 'Tara's Pink' or between Anisodontea x hypomandarum and A. anomala - it had attractive flowers with a deep rose-center and orchid striping radiating outwards and larger dark green leaves that were strongly lobed. Though 'Tara's Wonder had striking flowers, its coarse foliage and open form made it an awkward plant in the garden and it was discontinued in 1998. Most plants we have seen in cultivation labeled 'Tara's Wonder', even in reputable botanic gardens, have actually been plants of 'Tara's Pink'.
The information about Anisodontea 'Tara's Pink' displayed on this page is based on research conducted in our library and from reliable online resources. We also relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we visit, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others, and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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