Help to identify this Plant please (Hibiscus?)

sonya.mellor

Hello,
I have inherited this plant but I have no idea what it is. 

Leaves are covered in a hair, and it seems very fast growing with quite a thick woody stem. 

I’ve tried running it through a few apps but the results vary from Mallow Tree to Hibiscus to Hollyhock. Would like to identify it so I can maintain it properly and know how to correctly prune it before it takes over the flowerbed (it’s in full sun)
Thanks in advance!

bertrand-mabel

Doesn't look like Hibiscus.

Flowers though do look like hollyhocks but leaves don't match.

sonya.mellor

bertrand-mabel said:

Doesn't look like Hibiscus.

Flowers though do look like hollyhocks but leaves don't match.

This is the problem I’m having identifying it. Seems it either has the leaves of one plant or the flower of another! 

BobTheGardener

Lavatera (tree Mallow) of some kind I think (same family.)  Care = lots and lots of water but very well drained soil.  There are so many types and they seed, so it may not be a specific cultivar.

sonya.mellor

BobTheGardener said:

Lavatera (tree Mallow) of some kind I think (same family.)  Care = lots and lots of water but very well drained soil.  There are so many types and they seed, so it may not be a specific cultivar.

Thank you! I did think a tree mallow looked the closest, but didn’t know how much variety there could be. 

It’s already quite large, can I prune it quite hard? 

BobTheGardener

Yes, and now is the right time for pruning.  Have a look at the advice here:

https://diygarden.co.uk/plants/lavatera/

sonya.mellor

BobTheGardener said:

Yes, and now is the right time for pruning.  Have a look at the advice here:

https://diygarden.co.uk/plants/lavatera/

Thank you so much!