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Plant care

Rough-leaved Cape Mallow (Rough-leaf African Mallow) care

Anisodontea scabrosa

Also called Rough-leaved Cape Mallow, Rough-leaf African Mallow, Hairy Mallow, Pink Mallow.

RHS H3USDA 8-11Mildly toxic to petsIndoor 120–180 cm tall

Watering rhythm

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Water when the top 3–4 cm of soil is dry

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Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Well-drained loam or sandy loam

Humidity

Low to moderate (40–60%)

Temp

-3 to 32°C

Pet safety

Mildly toxic to pets

Mature size

120–180 cm tall

Care at a glance

Light

Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sun on the leaves. Thrives in full sun with at least six hours of direct sun daily; partial shade is tolerated but significantly reduces flower production. If your only bright window faces south, that's perfect for rough-leaved cape mallow — same window any aroid would fry on.

Watering

Watering rough-leaved cape mallow: water when the top 3–4 cm of soil is dry. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Moderately drought-tolerant once established, but young plants and container specimens need regular watering; water at the base to reduce fungal disease.

Soil and pot

Rough-leaved Cape Mallow grows best in well-drained loam or sandy loam. Tolerates a wide range of soil types (acid, neutral, or alkaline) and even poor, lean soils, provided drainage is excellent; rich, wet soils encourage soft growth prone to disease. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Rough-leaved Cape Mallow sits happiest at around Low to moderate (40–60%) humidity and -3 to 32°C (27 to 90°F). Tolerates dry conditions well once established; good air circulation around the foliage reduces the risk of fungal issues in humid conditions. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed rough-leaved cape mallow sparingly. Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring; avoid high-nitrogen feeds that stimulate leafy growth at the expense of flowers. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on rough-leaved cape mallow in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Woody, bare-based growth — Plants become woody and bare at the base if not pruned regularly; cut back hard in early spring to 30–50 cm to stimulate fresh growth from the base and maintain a bushy, compact form.
  • Aphids on new growth — Soft spring growth tips are susceptible to aphid colonies which can distort emerging shoots; treat promptly with insecticidal soap or squash by hand to prevent populations establishing.

Propagation

Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer, rooting them in gritty, free-draining compost with bottom heat at 18–20°C. Seed can be sown under glass in spring at 18°C; tip-prune young plants to encourage bushiness. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Rough-leaved Cape Mallow is mildly toxic to pets. Anisodontea scabrosa is not listed in the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant database; no toxic compounds have been documented in the genus, and horticultural sources generally regard it as non-harmful to pets, but the mildly-toxic classification is used here in the absence of a formal ASPCA non-toxic verification. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Rough-leaved Cape Mallow care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Anisodontea scabrosa?

Anisodontea scabrosa is most commonly called Rough-leaved Cape Mallow, but it is also known as Rough-leaved Cape Mallow, Rough-leaf African Mallow, Hairy Mallow, Pink Mallow. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Rough-leaved Cape Mallow apply identically to anything sold as Rough-leaf African Mallow.

How much light does rough-leaved cape mallow need?

Rough-leaved Cape Mallow grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Thrives in full sun with at least six hours of direct sun daily; partial shade is tolerated but significantly reduces flower production.

How often should I water rough-leaved cape mallow?

Water rough-leaved cape mallow water when the top 3–4 cm of soil is dry. Moderately drought-tolerant once established, but young plants and container specimens need regular watering; water at the base to reduce fungal disease. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is rough-leaved cape mallow toxic to cats and dogs?

Rough-leaved Cape Mallow is mildly toxic to pets. Anisodontea scabrosa is not listed in the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant database; no toxic compounds have been documented in the genus, and horticultural sources generally regard it as non-harmful to pets, but the mildly-toxic classification is used here in the absence of a formal ASPCA non-toxic verification.

What USDA hardiness zone does rough-leaved cape mallow grow in?

Rough-leaved Cape Mallow is rated for USDA zone 8-11 and RHS hardiness H3. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Rough-leaved Cape Mallow deep-dive guides

Every aspect of rough-leaved cape mallow care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Rough-leaved Cape Mallow qualifies for 5 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Rough-leaved Cape Mallow is also known as Rough-leaved Cape Mallow, Rough-leaf African Mallow, Hairy Mallow, and Pink Mallow.