Is it possible to prune as it grows next year to encourage a bushier, shorter plant?
Pruning of lavatera should be in two stages: in autumn, reduce growth by about half to prevent wind rocking the roots about over winter, then in spring take the remaining growth back to about 1ft above the ground. Pruned in this way, your plant will get bushier each year, but it is obviously a vigorous type and it will be hard to keep it any smaller than 6ft. If you prune over summer while the plant is growing, you will just delay flowering. Although you love the blooms of this unnamed lavatera, keep your eyes open for named cultivars; lavateras are short-lived plants, and yours will need replacing after a few years anyway. With cultivars, you know exactly what you are getting, and you can choose one that has been bred to stay compact and bushy. White-flowered ‘Lisanne’ and deep red ‘Burgundy Wine’ both grow to around 4ft. ‘Lavender Lady’ (lilac flowers) and ‘Memories’ (white flowers with a red centre), stay even smaller at 3ft. ยท Send gardening queries for Lia Leendertz to Guardian We
