Common mallow.

De un vistazo

Nivel de cuidados

Fácil

Tipo de planta

Perennial herb

Luz

Full sun to partial shade

Luz en interior

Sol directo

Riego

Cada 3 a 7 días

Tamaño adulto

3 to 4 feet

Ritmo de crecimiento

Rápido

Rusticidad

USDA 4 a 8

Floración

Late spring to early autumn

Cuidados

Plant this in a spot that gets plenty of sunshine and keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Keep an eye out for rust on the leaves, which can happen if the air circulation is poor. Deadheading spent blooms will encourage the plant to keep producing flowers throughout the season.

Riego

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Abonado

Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the active growing season.

Poda

Trim back faded flowers regularly to promote continuous blooming.

Trasplante

Repot if the plant becomes root bound or if you notice growth slowing down significantly.

Suelo

Well draining, fertile soil

pH del suelo

6.0 to 7.5

Temperatura

-15 a 35°C

Humedad

40 a 70%

Tolerancia a la sequía

Moderada

Longevidad

Short lived perennial, typically 2 to 4 years.

Resistencia a ciervos y conejos

Moderada

Seguridad

Personas

This plant is generally considered non toxic to humans.

Niños

The plant is not considered dangerous, but children should be supervised to prevent ingestion of seeds or foliage.

Alérgenos por contacto

Handling the foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Alérgenos en el aire

Pollen may trigger mild allergic reactions in those sensitive to mallow family plants.

Comestibilidad

While leaves and flowers are edible, avoid consuming plant material that has been treated with pesticides.

Cómo identificarla

• Five petaled purple flowers
• Dark purple veins on petals
• Rounded, palmately lobed leaves
• Hairy stems and foliage

Altura

0,6 a 1,2m

Anchura

0,45 a 0,9m

Hojas

green, deciduous

Flores

purple, pink, 3 a 5cm

Frutos

brown, Late summer

Problemas frecuentes

• Rust — Fungal infection causing orange pustules on the undersides of leaves.
• Mallow flea beetle — Small beetles that chew tiny holes in the leaves.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagación

seed, cuttings

Cuándo plantar

spring, autumn

Cuidados en invierno

Cut back dead stems in late autumn. Provide a light mulch if you live in a region with very cold winters.

En maceta

It grows well in large containers of at least 30 centimeters in diameter.

Plant mallow in sunny spots with good air circulation to reduce the risk of rust disease.

Buenas compañeras

• Lavanda inglesa — They share similar sun and drainage requirements.
• Sage — Both plants benefit from well drained soil and full sun.

Especies parecidas

• Malva moschata — It has a similar growth habit but with more deeply dissected foliage.
• Hollyhock — It is a taller relative with a similar flower structure.

Ciencia

Familia

Malvaceae

Género

Malva

Orden

Malvales

Clase

Magnoliopsida

Distribución natural

Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia.

Conservación

This species is widespread and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in disturbed soils and hedgerows where it can easily colonize open spaces.

Valor para la fauna

nectar source, larval host plant

Polinizadores

abejas, mariposas

Usos

ornamental border, edible flowers, herbal tea, pollinator garden

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

Is common mallow a perennial?

It is typically grown as a short lived perennial or biennial.

Does it self seed?

Yes, it often spreads readily by dropping seeds in the garden.

De dónde viene el nombre

The name Malva comes from the Greek word malakos, meaning soft, referring to its soothing properties. Sylvestris means of the woods or wild.

Bueno saberlo

• The seeds are often called cheeses due to their round, flat shape.
• It is a close relative of the hibiscus and hollyhock.
• The plant has been used as a food source during times of famine.