Malva Zebrina or Mallow

mallow

Cottage garden favourite

Malva or Mallow is a shorter cousin to the Hollyhock, with a similar growth habit and flowering spires of soft, satiny flowers. Plants form an upright, bushy mound with 2” wide soft lavender purple flowers, exotically striped with deep maroon veins. Staking will likely be necessary as the flower stems grow and the plant reaches a height of up to 4 feet.

Although Malva Zebrina is a short lived perennial or biennial, the good news is that it will return from self sown seedlings, so with careful weeding, a thriving patch can easily be cultivated. Heat and drought tolerant, this tough plant thrives in full sun and will flower all season long, providing gorgeous colour not only for us to enjoy, but for all pollinators, especially Butterflies to visit.

Plants form an upright, bushy mound with 2” wide soft lavender purple flowers, exotically striped with deep maroon veins.

Plants form an upright, bushy mound with 2” wide soft lavender purple flowers, exotically striped with deep maroon veins. Photos courtesy of Walters Gardens.