Malva sylvestris, or tree mallow, charms gardeners with its large, saucer-shaped flowers and glossy green leaves. Zebrina, a cultivar of tree mallow, adds an element of drama to garden beds with its striking lilac flowers, which feature dark maroon veining along each petal. As with all mallow cultivars, Zebrina grows easily from seed and will reach a mature height of 3 feet within one growing season. However, the seeds germinate most reliably when planted indoors several weeks before the last springtime frost.

1. • 1

     Fill a plastic six-pack growing container with rich potting soil containing a small amount of perlite. Fill each cell of the growing container to within 1/4-inch of the top.

   • 2

     Place two Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’ seeds on the surface of the soil in each cell of the growing container. Cover the seeds with a 1/16-inch-thick layer of soil. Gently firm the soil over the seeds to anchor them.

   • 3

     Mist each cell of the six-pack growing container with a water-filled spray bottle. Moisten the soil to a depth of 1/2 inch. Maintain moisture at that level while the Malva sylvestric ‘Zebrina’ seeds germinate.

   • 4

     Place the six-pack growing container atop a warming mat near a large window. Set the temperature on the warming mat to 86 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 68 at night. Alternating the temperature breaks the seed’s dormancy and will promote more reliable germination.

   • 5

     Watch for sprouting 5 to 10 days after sowing the seeds. Thin the seedlings to one per cell if both seeds germinate. Remove the growing container from the warming mat one week after the seeds germinate.

   • 6

     Keep the six-pack growing container indoors near a source of bright light until two weeks after the last frost. Plant the Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’ plants 18 inches apart in a sunny bed with loamy, well-draining soil.

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