Phymosia umbellata black

A wonderful Mexican mallow – very like an Abutilon, with handsome grey green palmate leaves and surprisingly large black, rounded flowers in summer. I’m tempted to call this form ‘Aubergine’ because that’s exactly what the flowers look like. Normally the species has bright red flowers but this seems to be the form most commonly grown in the UK.

The whole plant is intriguingly textured and tactile – especially the buds. Hardy enough to survive in my unheated tunnel without any damage, but not tested in the garden yet. In containers it gets through a lot of water so probably better in the ground. 

£18