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Malvaceae
Marsh Mallow
Althaea officinalis
Healing and protection.
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Genus
- Althaea
- Native to
- Europe, Western Asia, North Africa
- Bloom season
- Summer, Fall
- Type
- herbaceous
- Height
- 3-5 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- moist, rich, slightly saline
- Water
- moderate to high
- Hardiness
- 3-9
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- The original marshmallow confection was made by whipping the mucilaginous sap from the roots of this plant with sugar and egg whites.
- The genus name Althaea derives from the Greek 'altho' meaning 'to cure,' reflecting its long medicinal history.
- Ancient Egyptians combined marshmallow root with honey to make a sore-throat remedy over 2,000 years ago.
- The entire plant is edible: leaves can be eaten as salad greens, and the roots were boiled as a vegetable in times of famine.
- Its velvety, soft leaves are covered in fine hairs that give the whole plant a silvery-gray appearance.
Color meanings
0
healing
1
protection
2
beneficence
3
to cure