Anisodontea 'El Rayo'
African mallow 'El Rayo'
An upright, evergreen to semi-evergreen sub-shrub to around 1m tall with hairy stems and hairy, lobed leaves. Saucer-shaped pink flowers 3-4cm in diameter, with darker magenta-pink to reddish centres and veins, are borne from summer into autumn
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink Red | Green | ||
| Autumn | Pink Red | Green | ||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H2Botanical details
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen or Semi evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- Genus
Anisodontea are evergreen, woody-based perennials and shrubs with simple or palmately-lobed leaves and saucer-shaped, five-petalled flowers borne in the leaf axils over a long period between summer and autumn
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
May survive outdoors in a sunny, sheltered spot in mild areas but normally grown in a cool greenhouse for summer bedding or as a patio plant. Needs good drainage and full sun
Propagation
Propagate by seed in spring or by semi-ripe cuttings with bottom heat in summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Mediterranean climate plants
- Patio and container plants
Pruning
Pruning group 9, tip prune young plants to encourage bushiness
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly and aphids
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.