A few years ago, I attended a program hosted by a group of garden clubs in Joliet. I was amazed to learn that the native Kankakee Mallow (Iliamna remota) is one of the rarest wildflowers in America and is state-listed as “endangered.”
Originally found on little, twenty-acre Langham Island in the middle of the Kankakee River, it almost disappeared having been overtaken by non-native honeysuckles and multiflora roses. Fortunately, someone got the bright idea to do a controlled burn, as we see in our own forest preserves. Once the fires removed the invasives, the mallow seeds, having waited for years for a fire to set the germination process in motion, sprouted. Seeds can remain viable for up to 50 years! The seeds will also germinate if the seed coat is scarified (scratched up a bit by a file, etc.)
Imagine my surprise when, as I was roaming the perennial section at The Growing Place, there was a tray of Kankakee Mallow! I brought three home and they are doing so well in my suburban, civilized gardens. Two are in my butterfly garden and one is next to my mailbox. They are about three feet tall, but may reach five feet, and look similar to hollyhocks. With pale pink blooms that last for a months, they are loved by bees and other pollinators.
The Kankakee Mallow grows in full sun on a short, sturdy taproot. That taproot sure is sturdy as recently a vehicle came careening down my street, jumped the curb and smashed my poor Kankakee Mallow into my mailbox. The heavy metal fencing that I had placed around it to protect it from bunnies was wrapped around the mailbox post. Kent had to use a vice to somewhat restore its shape! I was able to gently push it back into place, adding a little extra soil and mulch.
My Kankakee Mallow seems to be fine, but the assailant left no note and none of my neighbors saw the accident. Officer, where were you to catch this wayward driver?
