Plant Details

Althaea officinalis

Marsh Mallow

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Common names

37 names · 31 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (30)
Dutch
  • Echte heemst
  • Heemst[2]
French
  • Guimauve officinale[2]
Arabic
  • خباز المستنقع[2]
  • ختمية طبية[2]
Armenian
  • Տուղտ դեղատու[2]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
  • Bijeli sljez[2]
  • Pitomi sljez[2]
Czech
  • proskurník lékařský[2]
Danish
  • Læge-stokrose[2]
Finnish
  • rohtosalkoruusu[2]
German
Hebrew
  • נטופית רפואית[2]
Hungarian
  • Orvosi ziliz[2]
Italian
Japanese
  • ウスベニタチアオイ[2]
Norwegian
  • legestokkrose[2]
Polish
  • prawoślaz lekarski[2]
Portuguese
Romanian
  • Nalbă mare[2]
Russian
  • Алтей лекарственный[2]
Serbian
  • Бели слез[2]
Slovak
  • ibiš lekársky[2]
Slovenian
  • navadni slez[2]
Spanish
  • Malvavisco[2]
Swedish
Thai
  • มาร์ชแมลโลว์[2]
Turkish
  • Deli Hatmi[2]
Ukrainian
  • Проскурняк лікарський[2]
Welsh
  • Hocysen y morfa[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Althaea officinalis L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Echter Eibisch (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 164291; taxon 5TY3W.
  • Marsh-mallow (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 164292; taxon 5TY3W.
[2] Althaea officinalis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • marsh mallow — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Marsh-mallow — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • malví — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Guimauve officinale — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • proskurník lékařský — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Echter Eibisch — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Læge-stokrose — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Heemst — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • legestokkrose — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Алтей лекарственный — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Bismalva — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • rohtosalkoruusu — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • ウスベニタチアオイ — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Alteia — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • malvaísco — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Orvosi ziliz — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • ختمية طبية — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • خباز المستنقع — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • läkemalva — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • altea — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Pitomi sljez — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Bijeli sljez — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Бели слез — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • 药蜀葵 — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Տուղտ դեղատու — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • 藥蜀葵 — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • navadni slez — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Проскурняк лікарський — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • prawoślaz lekarski — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Nalbă mare — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • ibiš lekársky — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • נטופית רפואית — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Hocysen y morfa — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • มาร์ชแมลโลว์ — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Malvavisco — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Deli Hatmi — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.

General information

Scientific name: Althaea officinalis
Accepted name (Kew): Althaea officinalis L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Malvaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Althaea (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Marsh Mallow
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.20 m
Spread: 0.80 m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3-7
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Root, Tea
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(5)
Functions:
Adhesive, Fibre, Oil

Description

Leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked. They are often used in dishes as leafy vegetables or to make thicker soups. To retain the flavor and texture optimally, it is advisable to use the leaves in small quantities and combine them with other leafy types. Cooking too many leaves can lead to a slimy texture and a less pleasant taste. The leaves can also be eaten raw, but keep in mind that they can be fibrous, although the flavor is generally mild and pleasant. The root of the plant can be eaten both raw and cooked. It is often used as a vegetable, but can also be dried and ground into powder. This powder can be used to make pastes or for roasting. Roasted roots can develop a sweet, marshmallow-like texture. The cooking water from the roots can even serve as an egg substitute. Finally, both the flowers and the roots can be used to make tea.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1304535; name ID 2631485; Althaea L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 247405; name ID 2631597; Althaea officinalis L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Althaea officinalis

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1773712, ID 5TY3W: Althaea officinalis L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .