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Anisodontea capensis

African Mallow · Cape African-queen · Cape Mallow

Family MalvaceaeGenus Anisodontea

Small pink mallow flowers with darker veins and a red eye, scattered on slender stems with lobed leaves
FlowerMichael WolfCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Annual, Perennial, ShrubExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Height
2-4 ft0.6-1.2 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
2-4 ft0.6-1.2 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Pink, Red/BurgundyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Fall, Spring, Summer, WinterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Cape ProvincesGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
8-11Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Cape mallow, from the Cape Provinces of South Africa, holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It does well in Mediterranean-style gardens, in containers and as a hedge. Wikipedia: Anisodontea capensis

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 35 days.

33% germination in 35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Anisodontea p. 13Public domain
Show the original text
Anisodontea (Malvaceae). A high proportion of the seed coats were empty. It is possible that the ungerm. seeds were empty seed coats and that the only conclusion is that the seeds germinate readily in 70D. A. capensis DS 6 m germ. 40-70D(10% on 3rd d) and 70D(none). The ungerm. seeds could have been empty seed coats. A second sample germ. 40(1/3 in 5th w) and 70D-4Ó-70D-40-70D-40(1/6 in 10th w)-70D(1/6 in 10th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Anisodontea p. 13. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around May 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on April 30, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    1/6 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 4 run on after germination.

about 9 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 70 days.

17% germination in 70 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Anisodontea p. 13Public domain
Show the original text
Anisodontea (Malvaceae). A high proportion of the seed coats were empty. It is possible that the ungerm. seeds were empty seed coats and that the only conclusion is that the seeds germinate readily in 70D. A. capensis DS 6 m germ. 40-70D(10% on 3rd d) and 70D(none). The ungerm. seeds could have been empty seed coats. A second sample germ. 40(1/3 in 5th w) and 70D-4Ó-70D-40-70D-40(1/6 in 10th w)-70D(1/6 in 10th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Anisodontea p. 13. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around July 7, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on July 6, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 3 days.

10% germination in 3 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Anisodontea p. 13Public domain
Show the original text
Anisodontea (Malvaceae). A high proportion of the seed coats were empty. It is possible that the ungerm. seeds were empty seed coats and that the only conclusion is that the seeds germinate readily in 70D. A. capensis DS 6 m germ. 40-70D(10% on 3rd d) and 70D(none). The ungerm. seeds could have been empty seed coats. A second sample germ. 40(1/3 in 5th w) and 70D-4Ó-70D-40-70D-40(1/6 in 10th w)-70D(1/6 in 10th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Anisodontea p. 13. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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