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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Malvaceae (w/Bombacaceae & Sterculeacea) |
| Origin: South America |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Orange Red |
| Bloomtime: Winter/Summer |
| Fragrant Flowers: Yes |
| Synonyms: [P. malvifolia Hort., Malva misionera] |
| Height: 4-6 feet |
| Width: 3-4 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Pavonia missionum (Red Mallow) - A graceful shrub to 4 to 6 feet tall and wide with aromatic 2 1/2 inch long dark green lobed leaves that are slightly hairy and have scalloped margins. In late winter on through summer appear the 1 1/2 inch wide outwardly-facing orange-red flowers with a golden center of bundled stamens. Plant in full sun to part sun in most any soil and can be irrigated regularly to fairly infrequently where it is compatible growing with mediterranean plants in a low water garden. Evergreen and hardy to at least 25° F and some report it tolerating temperatures down to the teens for short durations. A great plant mixed with other flowering shrubs in a border planting or used as a large potted plant and is a good nectar plant for butterflies. This floriferous shrub is native to northeastern Argentina, southern Brazil and Paraguay where it is often found growing along the rivers, including the area around the Argentina province of Misiones, which gives the plant its specific epithet. The generic name honors the Spanish botanist José Antonio Pavón Jiménez (1754-1844). It is sometimes erroneously referred to as Pavonia malvifolia or Pavonia rubra and with several other plants in this family shares the common name Malva del monte. We also grow two other Pavonia species, the South African Pavonia praemorsa and Pavonia candida from Mexico.
The information on this page is based on research conducted about this plant in our library and from reliable online sources. We also take into consideration observations of this plant in our nursery crops, as well as of plants growing in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens we visit. We also will incorporate comments that we receive from others and welcome getting feedback from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if it includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Pavonia missionum. |
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