PAVONIA hastata

Graceful compact and rounded evergreen bush, coming from South America. With an easy growth, it can quickly reach a diameter of 1,5 m. Strongly branched from the base, it has herbaceous stems above and lignified ones below. These bring ovate and alternate leaves which have an upper slightly rough page and a lower tomentose one, of a dark green color.

Very rustic plant which doesn't need particular cares. It needs a sunny or semi-shaded position, otherwise its blooming could be poorer or even absent. It is suitable to any kind of soil, even if it prefers the fertile and well drained ones. It tolerates drought but benefits from sporadic summer irrigations which will improve the general aspect of the plant and will make its next blooming more lasting. It tolerates frost if it is not intense and prolonged which sometimes can cause the loss of the leaves, which will appear again in spring. It adapts to salt and sea winds, so it would be optimal for coastal gardens. After the vegetative regrowth a pruning can be useful. It will consist in the removal of disordered and dried branches and in the shortening of the vigorous ones in order to give the plant a thicker shape and stimulate the next and rich blooming. It is ideal as a plant for pots; in the garden it can be used as a single specimen and big colorful scrub or associated to other essences with a contrasting foliage in order to realize uncommon and original low hedges.