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Malva sylvestris - L.
Natural
Common Name Mallow Cholesterol
Cure
Reduce Your
Family Malvaceae
Risk, Without
Drugs. Download
Althaea godronii. Althaea Our Free Report.
Synonyms mauritiana. Malva ambigua. Ne wportNaturalHe
Malva erecta. Malva mauritiana.

Monarch Lawn
& Landscape
When grown on nitrogen
(c ) 2010 Ken Fern & Plants For A Future Landscape
rich soils (and particularly when Design &
these are cultivated Installation
Known Hazards inorganically), the plant tends to Patio, Walkway,
concentrate high levels of Walls, Planting
nitrates in its leaves[76]. The www.m onarchlawn
leaves are perfectly wholesome
at all other times. Avoid with
gallstones.
Hawaii
Packages 2013
Waste ground, field verges and 6-Day Elvis-
Habitats roadsides, avoiding acid soils[7, Themed Hawaii
9, 17]. Getaway. 1-800-
(c ) 2010 Ken Fern & Plants For A Future
238-2000. Call
Most of Europe, including Britain. Now to Book!
Range www.e lvis.com /alo

Personal
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Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Malva sylvestris is a BIENNIAL/PERENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in).

It is hardy to zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from Jun to September,
and the seeds ripen from Jul to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have
both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, self.The plant is self-
fertile.

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers
well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can
grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

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Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Hedgerow;

Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Flowers; Leaves; Seed.
Edible Uses: Tea.

Leaves - raw or cooked[2, 4, 7, 9, 94, 183]. Mucilaginous with a mild pleasant flavour, they are nice in soups where they act as a thickener[5]. The young leaves also
make a very acceptable substitute for lettuce in a salad[K]. Immature seed - raw[183]. Used as a nibble[183], the seeds have a nice nutty flavour[12] but are too fiddly
for most people to want to gather in quantity[K]. Flowers - raw. Added to salads or used as a garnish[183]. A pleasant mild flavour, with a similar texture to the leaves,
they make a pleasant and pretty addition to the salad bowl[K]. The leaves are a tea substitute[46, 183].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsib ility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional b efore using a plant
medicinally.

Antiphlogistic; Astringent; Demulcent; Diuretic; Emollient; Expectorant; Laxative; Salve.

All parts of the plant are antiphlogistic, astringent, demulcent, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, laxative, salve[4, 7, 9, 21, 46, 222, 238]. The leaves and flowers can be
eaten as part of the diet, or a tea can be made from the leaves, flowers or roots[222]. The leaves and flowers are the main part used, their demulcent properties
making them valuable as a poultice for bruise, inflammations, insect bites etc, or they can be taken internally in the treatment of respiratory system diseases and
problems with the digestive tract[4, 238, 254]. When combined with eucalyptus it makes a god remedy for coughs and other chest ailments[254]. Mallow has similar
properties, but is considered to be inferior to the marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis) and are seldom used internally[4]. The plant is an excellent laxative for young
children[7]. The leaves can be used fresh whenever they are available or can be harvested in the spring and dried for later use[254]. The flowers are harvested in the
summer and can be dried for later use[254]. The German Commission E Monographs, a therapeutic guide to herbal medicine, approve Malva sylvestris for cough,
bronchitis, inflammation of the mouth and pharynx (see [302] for critics of commission E).

Other Uses
Dye; Fibre; Litmus.

Cream, yellow and green dyes can be obtained from the plant and the seed heads[168]. A tincture of the flowers forms a very delicate test for alkalis[4, 115]. The
leaves are used to relieve insect bites and stings[53]. A fibre obtained from the stems is useful for cordage, textiles and paper making[115].

Cultivation details
A very easily grown plant, succeeding in ordinary garden soil[1] and in poor soils[238]. It prefers a reasonably well-drained and moderately fertile soil in a sunny
position[200], where it will produce a better crop of salad leaves[K]. Plants are hardy to about -20c[187]. There are some named forms, selected for their ornamental
value[187]. 'Mauritiana' is larger than the type with much more ornamental flowers[187]. The flavour of the leaves and flowers is considered by many to be superior to
the type species[183]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233]. Prone to infestation by rust fungus[200].

Propagation
Seed - sow early spring in situ. Germination should take place within 2 weeks.

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Expert comment

Author
L.

Botanical References
17200

Links / References

[K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956

Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[2]Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
[4]Grieve. A Modern Herbal.
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
[5]Mabey. R. Food for Free.
Edible wild plants found in Britain. Fairly comprehensive, very few pictures and rather optimistic on the desirability of some of the plants.
[7]Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants.
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.
[9]Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants.
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.
[12]Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder.
A handy pocket guide.
[17]Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles.
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
[21]Lust. J. The Herb Book.
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.
[46]Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants.

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An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual
reader.
[53]De. Bray. L. The Wild Garden.
Interesting reading.
[94]Sweet. M. Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West.
Useful wild plants in Western N. America. A pocket guide.
[115]Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.
Written about a hundred years ago, but still a very good guide to the useful plants of Britain.
[168]Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants.
A very good and readable book on dyeing.
[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American
nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
[187]Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2.
Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.
[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[222]Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field
guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
[233]Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
[238]Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main
quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
[254]Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
[302]From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Commission E
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commission_E

Readers comment

Elizabeth H.
Tuliameny Thu Jul 5 2007
Please tell me were in canada can i buy malva sylvestris.

Elizabeth H.
Jan Karpisek Fri Sep 12 2008

Photo of the Mallow cult. "Mauritania" by Jan Karpisek for pfaf.org

Elizabeth H.
Angela Paxton Sat Apr 18 2009
Is Malva sylvestris Zebrina edible - it says poisonous on the seed website!

Elizabeth H.
david Sat Apr 18 2009
I can find no reference to this being toxic, Bown,( Ref 238 above) who never seems to be wrong about anything, specifically mentions this variant as edible and
medicinal. But excess can be laxative and see the note above on toxicity if grown on nitrate rich soil. Some Malva species are toxic however, I suggest you
contact the source that said it is toxic and ask for a reference or if they are sure.

Elizabeth H.
david n Sun Apr 19 2009
The leaves are said to cause indigestion in large doses according to Tim Low(Wild Herbs of Australia and New Zealand), he is talking of Malva leaves in
general, it's not completely certain this includes Malava sylvestis and its' varieties

Jair T.
Feb 6 2012 12:00AM
it is a fantastic remedy for infected wounds. My mother would steep leaves in water. and apply the cooled down leaves directly over wound. Put a bandage on
top. a few hours later remove bandage and leaves, with it the infected part will come off.

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