Marshmallow
Marshmallow: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Marsh mallow, Althaea officinalis, is an herbaceous perennial in the mallow family, Malvaceae. Its name evokes a familiar confection, but the living plant has botanical, ornamental and historical interest of its own. It produces tall leafy stems and pale flowers, with a soft appearance created by hairs on its above-ground parts. The family also includes mallows and hibiscus, although marsh mallow is a distinct species with its own characteristics.The grey-green leaves are soft and velvety, broadly oval in shape and more or less lobed. The stems are softly hairy too. The plant can reach around one and a half to two metres tall, sometimes more depending on conditions. Its stature contrasts with the small size of individual flowers. Marsh mallow therefore provides a vertical presence in a flower border while retaining a comparatively light appearance as its stems branch. The pale leaf colour also gives the foliage a different effect…
