Napaea dioica Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Glade mallow

Napaea dioica

£29.99
Very hardySun-lovingLoved by pollinators
Pot size
23cm / 5L £29.99

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

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Description

Napaea dioica, the glade mallow, is a rare North American prairie perennial and the only species in its genus. Its huge, deeply cut, hand-shaped leaves carry five to nine lobes, and from June to August large airy heads of small, fragrant white flowers top stems reaching about 2m.

It has no RHS rating, but winters in its native range put it at H7, hardy to -20°C and below. It dies back in winter. Cold is not the risk in UK gardens; dry soil is, because it wilts quickly when the ground dries out.

Give it sun or part shade and a moist to wet loam, and it makes a striking plant for the back of an exotic border or a damp corner. Bees and hoverflies visit the flowers, so it belongs in pollinator planting too. Each plant carries either male or female flowers. More finds like this are in our rare and unusual collection.

What you receive: a young plant in a 23cm / 5L pot.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Glade mallow

Plant me in full sun and the coldest UK winters do not worry me.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Glade mallow

Napaea dioica needs full sun or partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is very hardy, standing the coldest UK winters outdoors.

Good for

Exotic Borders Wildlife & Pollinators

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H7 · Hardy Exotic · below −20°C

Rated H7, hardy to -20°C and below; its native range sees far colder winters. It dies back in winter and regrows in spring, so it needs no protection. Dry summers are the real test: keep it watered in drought.

Position

Full sunPartial shade

Full sun or partial shade. In a sunny spot the soil must stay moist, because it wilts quickly when dry. At about 2m in flower it sits at the back of an exotic border.

Soil

LoamMoist but well-drainedPoorly-drained

It thrives in moist to wet loam, including poorly drained ground, and should not be left to dry out. Find more hardy perennials for the border.

Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist, especially in the first summer and in dry spells: it wilts quickly when dry. Read moreShow less

Keep the soil consistently moist, especially in the first summer and in dry spells: it wilts quickly when dry.

Mature size

Height2 m
Spread0.9 m

Flowering

Summer · White

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Deciduous

Scent

Small white flowers are fragrant.

Native range

East-central United States, mainly the upper Midwest and Great Lakes region (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa), with scattered populations further east

Family

Malvaceae

Also known as

Napaea dioica

Genus

Napaea
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Does glade mallow come back every year?

Yes. It is a hardy herbaceous perennial that dies back in winter and regrows in spring. Cold is no threat: it is rated H7, hardy to -20°C and below.

Where is the best place to plant glade mallow?

In full sun or partial shade, in moist to wet soil. At about 2m tall in flower it belongs at the back of an exotic border, or in a damp spot that never dries out.

Is glade mallow drought tolerant?

No. It needs moist to wet soil and wilts quickly when the ground dries, so water it through dry spells, especially in a sunny position.

Is glade mallow good for pollinators?

Yes. Bees, including bumblebees, and hoverflies visit the fragrant white flowers from June to August. See more plants for pollinators.

Are glade mallow plants male or female?

Each plant carries either male or female flowers, which is what the name dioica reflects. It makes no difference to its value in the garden.

Is glade mallow rare?

Yes. It is rare across its native range in the east-central United States and is listed as endangered in Minnesota. It belongs to the mallow family, Malvaceae, but is the only species in the genus Napaea and a different plant from common mallow. Explore more rare and unusual plants.

Are your plants treated with pesticides?
We aim to avoid using pesticides where possible, but we can't control the whole supply chain.

If the plant is going into a vivarium, terrarium or aquarium with live animals, rinse the leaves and roots well, remove any soil and let the plant dry out before adding it. We'd also suggest keeping it away from animals for a month first.
Can I see a photo of the exact plant I'll receive?
We're not able to send photos of individual plants or let you choose a specific one, as plants are selected by our team when your order is packed. Our photos show the variety and the kind of plant you can expect, and yours may vary a little in height, shape or fullness.

If a size has a code next to it, such as 9cm / B2, you're buying the exact plant pictured.
Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 7 days with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Why Grow Tropicals

Plants delivered the way they deserve

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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