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(c) 2010 Ken Fern & Plants For A Future |
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| (c) 2010 Ken Fern & Plants For A Future |
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Summary
Bloom Color: Pink. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Early fall, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect.
Physical Characteristics
Malva alcea is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 0.8 m (2ft 7in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves Oil Oil Seed
Edible Uses: Oil Oil
Leaves - raw or cooked[74]. A mild pleasant flavour[K]. The leaves are mucilaginous and fairly bland, this is a very good perennial substitute for lettuce in a salad, producing fresh leaves from spring until the middle of summer, or until the autumn from self-sown plants[K]. Flowers - raw[K]. A very decorative addition to the salad bowl, they have a mild flavour and a texture similar to the leaves[K]. Seed - raw[74]. Best used before it is fully mature, the seed has a pleasant nutty taste but it is rather small and fiddly to harvest[K].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Demulcent Mouthwash
The leaves are demulcent. They are also used as a mouthwash for inflammatory and catarrhal conditions[74].
References More on Medicinal Uses
Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.
An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.
Read More
Other Uses
Dye Fibre Oil Oil
A fibre obtained from the stem is used for making cordage[74]. Cream, yellow and green dyes can be obtained from the plant and the seed heads[168]. The seed yields 15% oil[74]. The uses of this oil have not been given though it is almost certainly edible[K].
Special Uses
Food Forest
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Massing. A very easily grown plant, succeeding in ordinary garden soil[1], though it prefers a reasonably well-drained and moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[200]. A very ornamental and polymorphic plant[1, 50]. It tends to be quite short-lived in cultivation but usually self-sows when well-sited[233, K]. It is closely related to M. excisa[74]. If the plant is cut back to the ground as it comes into flower, then it will produce a fresh flush of leaves for salads[K]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233] and are seldom bothered by slugs[K]. Plants are prone to infestation by rust fungus[200]. Special Features:
Not North American native, Naturalizing, Extended bloom season in Zones 9A and above. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 8 through 1. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures.
Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat.
The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C).
At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days).
For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.
Shop Now
Propagation
Seed - best sown in early spring in a cold frame. The seed germinates quickly and easily. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in their permanent positions in the early summer[K]. If you have sufficient seed then it can be sown outdoors in situ in the middle to late spring. Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Native Plant Search
Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search
Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
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| F | LMH | N | M | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Abutilon megapotamicum | Trailing Abutilon | Shrub | 2.0 |
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| F | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Abutilon ochsenii | | Shrub | 4.0 |
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| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | |
| Abutilon pictum | Abutilon, Parlour Maple, Flowering Maple, Spotted | Shrub | 5.0 |
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| M | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | |
| Abutilon purpurascens | | Shrub | 2.4 |
8-11
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Abutilon species | | Shrub | 3.0 |
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| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | |
| Abutilon theophrasti | China Jute, Velvetleaf, Butterprint Buttonweed Jute, China Mallow, Indian Velvet Leaf | Annual | 1.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Abutilon vitifolium | | Shrub | 8.0 |
7-10
| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | |
| Abutilon x hybridum | Chinese Lantern, Flowering Maple | Shrub | 3.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Abutilon x milleri | Trailing Abutilon | Shrub | 3.0 |
7-10
| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | |
| Abutilon x suntense | | Shrub | 8.0 |
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| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | |
| Adansonia digitata | Baobab, Judas Fruit, Monkey Bread Tree | Tree | 20.0 |
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| S | LMH | N | DM | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Alcea rosea | Hollyhock | Perennial | 2.4 |
5-9
| F | LMH | N | DM | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Althaea cannabina | Palm-leaf marshmallow | Perennial | 1.8 |
4-8
| | LMH | N | DM | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Althaea officinalis | Marsh Mallow, Common marshmallow | Perennial | 1.2 |
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| | LMH | N | DM | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Bombax ceiba | Red Silk Cotton Tree, Kapok Tree | Tree | 25.0 |
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| M | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Burretiodendron hsienmu | Hsienmu wood | Tree | 35.0 |
10-12
| S | LMH | N | M | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Callirhoe digitata | Finger Poppy Mallow, Winecup | Perennial | 0.9 |
4-8
| | L | N | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Callirhoe involucrata | Poppy Mallow, Purple poppymallow, Winecup, Finger Poppy Mallow | Perennial | 0.2 |
4-8
| M | L | N | DM | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Callirhoe leiocarpa | Tall Poppy-Mallow | Annual | 0.9 |
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| | L | N | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Ceiba aesculifolia | Pochote | Tree | 25.0 |
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| M | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Ceiba pentandra | Kapok Tree, Cotton Tree, Suma'ma | Tree | 50.0 |
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| F | MH | N | DM | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Clappertonia ficifolia | Bolo Bolo | Shrub | 2.5 |
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| F | LM | N | MWe | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Cola acuminata | Cola Nut, Kola, Bissy Nut | Tree | 20.0 |
10-12
| M | LMH | N | M | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Cola nitida | Cola Nut, Kola, Bissy Nuts | Tree | 20.0 |
10-12
| S | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Durio dulcis | Durian Marangang, Merangang, Red Durian, Tutong, Lahong | Tree | 30.0 |
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| M | LMH | N | M | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Durio zibethinus | Durian | Tree | 30.0 |
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| M | LMH | N | M | 5 | 1 | 2 |
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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
L.
Botanical References
74200
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
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