Plant Details

Malva spp.

Mallows

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Malva spp..

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Common names

3 names · 3 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Mallows
Other languages (2)
Dutch
  • Kaasjeskruid
French
  • Mauve
Sources & name notes

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

General information

Scientific name: Malva spp.
Botanical family: Malvaceae

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

Sources [1]
Also known as: Mallows

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: 4-8
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Seed, Flowers
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Fibre, Dye

Description

Leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked and have a mild and pleasant flavor. The leaves are slimy and fairly tasteless, making them an excellent substitute for lettuce in salads. They grow fresh from spring until mid-summer, or from self-seeded plants in the fall. Flowers can be eaten raw and are very decorative in salads, with a mild flavor and a texture similar to the leaves. The seeds can be eaten raw and have a pleasant nutty taste, but it is best to use them before they are fully matured, as they are generally quite small and difficult to harvest.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/06
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 family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 242433; name ID 2503651; Malva Tourn. ex L.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.