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Common Mallow Wikimedia Commons
Malvaceae

Common Mallow

Malva sylvestris

Healing and nourishment.

Family
Malvaceae
Genus
Malva
Native to
Europe, North Africa, Western Asia
Bloom season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Type
perennial herb
Height
2-4 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
any well-drained soil
Water
low to moderate
Hardiness
4-8
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The immature seed pods, called 'cheeses' because of their wheel-like shape, have been eaten as a snack by children for centuries.
  • Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder claimed that a spoonful of mallow juice daily would prevent all diseases.
  • The word 'marshmallow' originally referred to a confection made from the root mucilage of a related mallow species.
  • Common mallow has been used as a food plant for over 3,000 years and the leaves can be cooked like spinach.
  • In traditional Mediterranean folk medicine, mallow poultices were applied to wounds and insect stings for their soothing properties.

Color meanings

0

sweetness

1

motherly love

Uses

  • edible herb garden
  • traditional herbal medicine