Pollinator plant

musk mallow

Malva moschata

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Common names

31 names · 27 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (26)
Dutch
French
Asturian
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 麝香锦葵[5]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 麝香錦葵[5]
Croatian
  • Mošusni sljez[5]
Czech
  • sléz pižmový[5]
Danish
  • Moskus-katost[5]
Estonian
  • muskus-kassinaeris[5]
Finnish
  • myskimalva[5]
German
Hungarian
  • pézsma mályva[5]
Irish
  • Hocas muscach[5]
Italian
Japanese
  • ジャコウアオイ[5]
Latvian
  • Smaržīgā malva[5]
Lithuanian
  • Kvapioji dedešva[5]
Norwegian
  • moskuskattost[5]
Polish
  • Ślaz piżmowy[5]
Russian
  • Мальва мускусная[5]
  • Просвирник мускусный[5]
Slovak
  • slez pižmový[5]
Slovenian
  • muškatni slezenovec[5]
Spanish
Swedish
Ukrainian
  • Калачики мускусні[5]
Welsh
  • Hocysen fwsg[5]
Sources & name notes (6)

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

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

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

[1] Malva moschata — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Musk Mallow — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Malva moschata.
[2] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • musk mallow — Page 2, column 1, row top 187 pt; common-name cell after Malva moschata.; Malva moschata.
[3] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • musk mallow — Page 4, column 1, row top 232 pt; common-name cell after Malva moschata.; Malva moschata.
[4] Malva moschata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • musk mallow — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Abelmoschus — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Indische Hibiscus-Malve — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Moschus-Malve — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • malva moscada — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Mauve musquée — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Malva moscata — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Muskuskaasjeskruid — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
[5] Malva moschata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • musk mallow — results[16].names[2]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Abelmoschus — results[16].names[5]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Indische Hibiscus-Malve — results[16].names[6]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Moschus-Malve — results[16].names[4]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • malva moscada — results[16].names[10]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Mauve musquée — results[16].names[7]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Malva moscata — results[16].names[19]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Muskuskaasjeskruid — results[16].names[1]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • sléz pižmový — results[16].names[8]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Moskus-katost — results[16].names[9]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • muskus-kassinaeris — results[16].names[11]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • moskuskattost — results[16].names[12]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Myskmalva — results[16].names[13]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • myskimalva — results[16].names[14]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Мальва мускусная — results[16].names[15]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Kvapioji dedešva — results[16].names[16]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • malva — results[16].names[17]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • slez pižmový — results[16].names[18]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • ジャコウアオイ — results[16].names[20]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Ślaz piżmowy — results[16].names[21]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • 麝香錦葵 — results[16].names[22]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • 麝香锦葵 — results[16].names[23]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • muškatni slezenovec — results[16].names[24]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Mošusni sljez — results[16].names[25]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Smaržīgā malva — results[16].names[26]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • pézsma mályva — results[16].names[27]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Hocas muscach — results[16].names[28]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Hocysen fwsg — results[16].names[29]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Просвирник мускусный — results[16].names[30]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
  • Калачики мускусні — results[16].names[31]; taxon id 55977; Malva moschata.
[6] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Malva moschata ↗

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

Source records
  • Moschus-Malve (DE); Musk-mallow (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 164347; taxon 6R4X7.
Plant references

Source-backed information

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

Taxonomy
Malva moschata 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]
Mature height
0.61–0.91 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.46–0.61 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Dense; Erect

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Malva moschata in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3] [4]
Native range
Europe to W. Türkiye.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [5]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Plant profile

About this plant

musk mallow (Malva moschata) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from July to September.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Malva moschata — 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 2318362; ID 6R4X7; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2318362; ID 6R4X7; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Malva moschata — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 4, column 1, entry Malva moschata (top 232 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Plants Of The World

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 1, entry Malva moschata (top 187 pt)

    Source checked on .

  5. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Malva moschata — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 615951; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 983286, 983290, 983291, 983292, 983293, 983295, 983296, 983297, 983298, 983299, 983300, 983301, 983302, 983303, 983304, 983305, 983306, 983307, 983308, 983311, 983312, 983317

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.