Lavatera maritima bicolor

Lavatera maritima bicolor
Malvaceae
Kristin Yanker-Hansen, Danville
The genus has a wide distribution in Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. This species is Mediterranean, growing to about 5 feet with grey 2.5-inch leaves on a shrub which bears 2-inch flowers, each petal marked with stripes from base tapering to the tips. The usual form is pale lavender with dark maroon stripes. The central column is dark. In the bicolor form the petals are white, contrasting markedly with the stripes. This form appears to be a 'mule' as it has never set seeds.