Pollinator plant

Marsh Mallow

Althaea officinalis

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Common names

37 names · 31 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (30)
Dutch
French
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
Swedish
Thai
  • มาร์ชแมลโลว์[2]
Turkish
  • Deli Hatmi[2]
Ukrainian
  • Проскурняк лікарський[2]
Welsh
  • Hocysen y morfa[2]
Sources & name notes (3)

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] Althaea officinalis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • marsh mallow — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Guimauve officinale — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Echter Eibisch — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Marsh-mallow — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Malvavisco — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Bismalva — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Heemst — results[0].names[8]; 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.
[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.
  • Guimauve officinale — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Echter Eibisch — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Marsh-mallow — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Malvavisco — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Bismalva — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Heemst — results[0].names[8]; 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.
  • malví — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • proskurník lékařský — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
  • Læge-stokrose — results[0].names[7]; 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Deli Hatmi — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 52565; Althaea officinalis.
[3] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Althaea officinalis ↗

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.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Althaea officinalis is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Malvaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous
Size
Small
Dimensions
1.20 m high × 0.80 m wide
Lifecycle
Perennial

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
3-7
Moisture
Well-drained, Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, Root, Tea
Functions
Adhesive, Fibre, Oil
Edibility
5 out of 5
Medicinal value
5 out of 5

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.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Althaea officinalis — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1773712; ID 5TY3W; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1773712; ID 5TY3W; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.