Loved the plant when i lived in England, but seem unable to grow it in USA, tried various potting composts, but seedling wilts and dies at about 3 to 4 inches tall can anybody help
Humm? I have to cut mine down every year with a chain saw! It's such an aggressive grower and by fall it's grown huge again. I've even taken cuttings in mid winter, stuck them in potting mix and they've rooted. Around here they're very hard to kill. I don't know why yours are dying. Cheers, LPN.
Probably can't stand climate where you are now. Much more like UK out here, sw BC and nw USA about the only part of Canada/US similar to UK.
I would suspect Cincinnati is quite cold in winter. From your message, it would appear you try growing Lavatera in a container, which is fine, but you probably should protect it over the winter months by moving close to the house, or with bubble wrap or some such thing. I find them the most hardiest and drought tolerant bushes here in British Columbia, and extremely easy to grow and propogate. I guess it's location, location....
sue1, We're neighbors (I'm in Lantzville - North of Nanaimo) and your experiences are similar to mine. As an experiment, this year I never watered one of my Lavetera 'Kew Rose' to see the end result. It's in dire straits right now but still clinging to life. There's more water on the moon, than in my garden right now! Cheers, LPN.