WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Malva sylvestris 'Zebrina', WUCOLS IV

How often to water zebra mallow in California

In July in the Central Valley, established zebra mallow in loam needs a deep watering about every 5 days: about 1.5 gallons each time for a plant 2 feet across, about 1.9 gallons a week. Zebra mallow is a short lived perennial with pink flowers marked by purple-red veins. Early sowings can flower in their first year, and seedlings can renew the planting. Give it moderately moist, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade.

PerennialRated for 2 of 6 zones

How often to water zebra mallow, month by month

Your city
Plant width
2 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for zebra mallow and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1 foot of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area the plant covers, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure plant width

A shrub with its width marked from one side to the other and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the plant, from the tips of the leaves on one side to the tips on the other.

Water the whole area the plant covers, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that area.

A wider plant means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While it is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • Soil dry two inches down beside a leafy clump signals it needs a soak during active growth
  • Wilting zebra mallow leaves call for a soil check before adding water
  • Poor flowering warrants checking moisture and light, since zebra mallow grows in sun to partial shade
  • Water pooling beside the stems signals drainage that does not meet zebra mallow's growing needs
  • Flopping stems in rich soil may need support instead of extra irrigation

How to water it

  • Water the clump at soil level with drip or a slow hose rather than wetting the flowers overhead
  • Soak a few inches deep, then let the surface dry before watering an established plant again
  • Plant zebra mallow in well-drained soil of moderate fertility, and support stems that flop in richer ground
  • Remove some spent blooms to tidy the plant, leaving others to set seed for next year's self-sown plants
  • Water new seedlings more often while they establish, then ease off as they mature

Through the seasons

Keep young zebra mallow moist while it establishes, checking each new seedling separately from an older clump. Maintain moderate soil moisture around established plants without leaving the ground saturated. This partly evergreen mallow flowers through summer and can be short lived. On the north-central coast and in the Central Valley, let winter rain replace irrigation whenever the soil stays moist. WUCOLS rates zebra mallow moderate water on the north-central coast and in the Central Valley. It has not evaluated this mallow for the south coast, South Inland, the high desert or the low desert.

In pots

If growing zebra mallow in a pot, allow room for its upright stems and use mix that drains freely. Check the top inch of mix often during California summer heat, since a small pot in full sun can dry out quickly. Water until it drains through the holes, then empty the saucer so the roots do not sit wet. Recheck the mix after winter rain before adding water. Because this mallow can be short lived, raise replacement plants from seed rather than relying on one old clump.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
2.67gal per sq ft in JulyModerate water use in the Central Valley zone
A year
17.11 gal per sq ft
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses
0.671.32.02.70.4JAN0.65FEB1.09MAR1.52APR2.08MAY2.48JUN2.67JUL2.39AUG1.8SEP1.18OCT0.56NOV0.34DEC0.671.32.02.70.4JFM1.52AMJ2.67JAS1.18OND
Gallons per square foot per month, Central Valley. Peak 2.67 in Jul, 17.11 a year.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Zebra Mallow: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan0.370.4––––
Feb0.530.65––––
Mar0.871.09––––
Apr1.181.52––––
May1.462.08––––
Jun1.612.48––––
Jul1.612.67––––
Aug1.492.39––––
Sep1.241.8––––
Oct0.871.18––––
Nov0.470.56––––
Dec0.310.34––––
Year1217.11––––

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 16

Rated moderate water in the Central Valley, like zebra mallow. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

DahliasDahlia spp.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyFernsNephrolepis cordifolia (SHADE IN DESERT)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyDayliliesHemerocallis spp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBegoniasBegonia & ssp. & cvs. (shade in the desert)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyCalla LiliesZantedeschia aethiopica SHADE IN DESERTmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySageSalvia officinalis and cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBicolor MonkshoodAconitum cammarummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyGarden MonkshoodAconitum napellusmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyCarpet BugleAjuga reptans (shade)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySnowdrop WindflowerAnemone sylvestrismoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyMountain SandwortArenaria montanamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySwamp MilkweedAsclepias incarnatamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyOrange MilkweedAsclepias tuberosamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyGreater MasterwortAstrantia majormoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyHardy BegoniaBegonia grandismoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyWax BegoniaBegonia semperflorensmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July

Similar plants that need less water 16

Rated lower than zebra mallow in the Central Valley. Worth a look for a new bed or a lawn replacement.

AgapanthusAgapanthus orientalislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyGeraniumsPelargonium x hortorum and cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySalviaSalvia greggii ssp., cvs. & hybridslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyIrisesIris germanicalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySucculentsEcheveria spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyRussian SagePerovskia spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyYarrowAchillea millefolium (non-native hybrids)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyMountain AlyssumAlyssum montanumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySilver SageSalvia argentealow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPurple MulleinVerbascum phoeniceumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySilvery YarrowAchillea clavennaelow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyFern Leaf YarrowAchillea filipendulinalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCalifornia Native YarrowAchillea millefolium (CA native cultivars)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyWoolly YarrowAchillea tomentosalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPerennial HollyhockAlcea rosea cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyMountain Lady's MantleAlchemilla alpinalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes zebra mallow, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How much water does zebra mallow need per day?

In July in the Central Valley, established zebra mallow needs about 0.3 gallons a day for a plant 2 feet across and about 1.1 gallons a day for a plant 4 feet across. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for zebra mallow change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates zebra mallow separately for each of the six California climate zones: moderate water in the North-Central Coastal zone, moderate water in the Central Valley zone, not evaluated in the South Coastal zone, not evaluated in the South Inland zone, not evaluated in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not evaluated in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

Why did my zebra mallow die after one great season?

Zebra mallow can be grown as an annual, biennial or short lived perennial. Leaving some flowers to set seed usually brings up fresh seedlings nearby. Treat an aging clump as part of a renewing patch rather than a plant that lasts for years.

How do I keep zebra mallow blooming all summer?

Provide moderate soil moisture and a sunny or partly shaded position during its summer flowering season. Leave some flowers to set seed if you want replacement plants. Do not use a fading display alone as a reason to add water to already moist soil.

Does zebra mallow need staking?

Plants in richer soil may need staking. Choose a moderately fertile site with good drainage, and add support if the stems lean. Staking does not change how often the soil needs checking.

How should I water zebra mallow during a heat wave?

Check the soil beside the clump before watering, and replenish moisture when it is drying below the surface. Keep drainage open rather than leaving the base saturated. Its moderate water rating calls for soil checks during dry weather.

Why are my zebra mallow seedlings wilting?

Check the soil around each seedling before adding water. Zebra mallow needs moisture with good drainage, so inspect a persistently wet patch as well as a dry one. Adjust watering to the seedling soil instead of assuming the neighboring clump received the same moisture.

More plant watering guides

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Sources