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Malva spp.

mallows

Malvaceae Europe, Asia, and North Africa

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Malva spp. is a genus of about 15 to 30 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the mallow family, Malvaceae, native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Plants grow 1 to 4 feet (0.3 to 1.2 m) tall on upright or sprawling stems, with rounded, palmately lobed leaves 1 to 4 inches (2.5 to 10 cm) wide. The flowers are five-petaled, 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) across, with notched petals in pink, purple, or white, often marked with darker veins, and are carried in the leaf axils over a long summer season. Each flower develops into a ring of segments called a schizocarp, the flat round fruit known as a cheese. Malva spp. grows in USDA zones 4 to 8 and tolerates poor and dry soils once established. Several species, including M. sylvestris and M. neglecta, self-seed freely and naturalize as weeds, and mallow rust commonly disfigures the foliage in damp conditions.

Native Range

Native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, growing in fields, on roadsides, and in disturbed ground. Several species have naturalized widely in North America and other temperate regions, where they grow as common weeds.

Suggested Uses

Grown in cottage and informal borders, wildflower and pollinator plantings, and herb gardens, where the young leaves and flowers are used in teas and salads. The flowers draw bees and other pollinators over a long season. Self-seeding suits naturalistic plantings but spreads the plant in tidier beds.

How to Identify

Identified by rounded, palmately lobed leaves and five-petaled flowers with notched, often dark-veined petals in pink, purple, or white, borne in the leaf axils. The flat, round fruit splits into wedge-shaped segments, the cheese that gives the group its folk name. The notched petals and axillary flowers separate Malva spp. from related hollyhocks and hibiscus.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 4'

Width/Spread1' - 3'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowers through summer, roughly June into September, with blooms opening in succession in the leaf axils up the stems. The long bloom season continues until frost in mild climates. Self-sown seed follows readily after flowering.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pink, purple, or white with darker veins

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to light shade in average, well-drained soil, and tolerates poor and dry ground once established. Overly rich, moist soil produces lax growth that may need support. Hardiness spans USDA zones 4 to 8, with perennial species often short-lived and renewed from self-sown seedlings. Mallow rust is the main problem, appearing as orange pustules on leaves and stems in humid weather. Removing affected foliage and spacing plants for airflow reduces its spread. Little feeding is needed in average soil.

Pruning

Plants are cut back after the main flush to tidy growth and prompt a second, lighter bloom. Perennial species are cut to the base in late fall or early spring. Removing seed heads before they ripen limits self-seeding.