Plant Details

Malva sylvestris

Mallow, High mallow, French Hollyhock, Common Mallow, Tree Mallow, Tall Mallow

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Common names

55 names · 37 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Cheeses[2]
  • Common Mallow[1][2]
  • French Hollyhock
+6 more namesShow fewer names
  • High mallow[1][2]
  • High Malva[2]
  • Large flowered mallow[2]
  • Mallow
  • Tall Mallow
  • Tree Mallow
Other languages (36)
Dutch
  • Groot kaasjeskruid[2]
French
  • grande mauve[2]
  • Mauve des bois[1][2]
  • Mauve sauvage
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Mauve sylvestre[2]
Arabic
  • خباز شائع[2]
  • خباز مرتفع[2]
  • خبازة برية[2]
Asturian
Bosnian
  • Crni sljez[2]
Bulgarian
  • Горски слез[2]
Catalan
  • Malva comuna[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
  • Crni sljez[2]
Czech
  • sléz lesní[2]
Danish
  • Almindelig katost[2]
Estonian
  • mets-kassinaeris[2]
Finnish
  • kiiltomalva[2]
German
Greek
  • Μολόχα[2]
Hebrew
  • חלמית גדולה[2]
Hungarian
  • Erdei mályva[2]
Irish
  • Lus na Meall Muire[2]
Italian
  • Malva selvatica[2]
Japanese
  • ウスベニアオイ[2]
Lithuanian
  • Miškinė dedešva[2]
Norwegian
  • legekattost[2]
Polish
  • Ślaz dziki[2]
Portuguese
  • malva-maior[2]
Romanian
  • Nalbă[2]
  • Nalbă de pădure[2]
Russian
  • Мальва лесная[2]
  • Просвирник лесной[2]
Serbian
  • Црни слез[2]
Slovak
  • slez lesný[2]
Slovenian
  • Gozdni slezenovec[2]
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
  • Ebegümeci[2]
Ukrainian
  • Калачики лісові[2]
Welsh
  • Hocysen hocys[2]
Language not specified
  • Garden Mallow[1]
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 — Malva sylvestris L. ↗

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

Source records
  • Common Mallow (EN); Malvilla (ES); Mauve des bois (FR) — VernacularName.tsv, line 164362; taxon 3XRCL.
  • Garden Mallow — VernacularName.tsv, line 164363; taxon 3XRCL.
  • Wilde Malve (DE); High Mallow — VernacularName.tsv, line 164364; taxon 3XRCL.
[2] Malva sylvestris — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Common Mallow — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • high mallow — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Large flowered mallow — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Groot kaasjeskruid — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Malva de campo — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Wilde Malve — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Große Käsepappel — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Malva comuna — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • grande mauve — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Mauve sylvestre — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Mauve des bois — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Malva selvatica — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Мальва лесная — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Просвирник лесной — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • sléz lesní — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • 歐錦葵 — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Rödmalva — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • ウスベニアオイ — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Almindelig katost — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • mets-kassinaeris — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • חלמית גדולה — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • legekattost — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Горски слез — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • kiiltomalva — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Ślaz dziki — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • malva-maior — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • malva — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Erdei mályva — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Miškinė dedešva — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Μολόχα — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Crni sljez — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • slez lesný — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • malva — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • خباز شائع — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • خباز مرتفع — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • خبازة برية — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • 欧锦葵 — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Црни слез — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Калачики лісові — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Cheeses — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • High Malva — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Ebegümeci — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Gozdni slezenovec — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Nalbă — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Crni sljez — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Lus na Meall Muire — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Nalbă de pădure — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.
  • Hocysen hocys — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 56162; Malva sylvestris.

General information

Scientific name: Malva sylvestris
Accepted name (Kew): Malva sylvestris L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Malvaceae

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

Sources [1]
Also known as: Mallow, High mallow, French Hollyhock, Common Mallow, Tree Mallow, Tall Mallow
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.50 m
Spread: - 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, Tea
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Dye, Fibre

Description

Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. They have a mild and pleasant flavor and are often used in soups as a thickening agent. The young leaves can also serve as a great alternative to lettuce in salads. Unripe seeds can be eaten raw and have a nutty flavor. The flowers are edible and have a delicate taste similar to that of the leaves. They can be added to salads or used as a garnish, making a beautiful addition. Furthermore, the leaves can be used as a replacement for tea.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
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 242433; name ID 2503651; Malva Tourn. ex L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 241764; name ID 2504118; Malva sylvestris L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Malva sylvestris

    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 591039, ID 3XRCL: Malva sylvestris L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .