Species Kankakee mallow

Kankakee mallow

Iliamna remota

Kankakee mallow (Iliamna remota) is a native wildflower found in the Midwestern and Great Lakes regions of the United States. Growing no larger than 2 feet in height, this plant is easily overlooked among taller vegetation. Its petite size belies its beauty, however, as it boasts an impressive display of deep lilac flowers with yellow centers. Prefers moist and sandy soil, its woody, branching stems produce both single and double blossoms during the summer months. This species is one of the rarest in the state of Illinois and is currently listed as threatened in Wisconsin. Through continued conservation efforts, this lovely native plant will once again flourish in its natural range.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation,Grafting Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

5 - 6

Flowers:

Apple blossom to bluish pink Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Kankakee mallow should be watered once every 7-10 days. The amount of water needed will vary depending on the size of the plant and the location of it, but a good rule of thumb is to water until the soil is lightly moist. If the soil is very dry, water more thoroughly and then allow the top soil to dry out slightly before the next watering. Over-watering can be damaging, so make sure to let the soil dry out a bit between waterings.

sunlight

Kankakee mallow (Iliamna remota) thrives in bright, indirect sunlight for approximately 6-8 hours per day. This can be provided from morning to mid afternoon, or an equivalent of 8-10 hours of indirect light. It should be noted that this plant is native to the northern plains and is used to grassland and sometimes desert conditions, so it is able to tolerate full direct sunlight. That being said, it is best to cook splotches of direct sunlight, as continuous direct sunlight can harm the growth.

pruning

Pruning of Kankakee mallow (Iliamna remota) should be done in moderate or light pruning annually in late spring or early summer. Pruning should not exceed more than 25% of the stem growth. Pruning should be done by removing dead and diseased foliage, and branches that are not blooming properly. Removing some of the oldest flower stalks and the basal portions of the stems below the flowers will help to encourage new growth. Light headed pruning should be done to maintain an overall pleasing shape and size of the plant. To promote blooming, pinch the growing tips of the stem base before and after flowering. It is also important to remove any overly large leaves or branches to keep the plant in balance and ease the load on the root system.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Kankakee mallow typically starts flowering in June.

Hardiness Map