Mallow – common (malva sylvestris) Hocas

Appearance:
Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris) has soft, rounded, toothed leaves and mauve to purple, five-petaled flowers with dark veins. The blooms resemble small hollyhocks.

Growth Habit:
It is a biennial or perennial that grows upright, reaching 2-3 feet tall. It has a bushy, spreading form and can self-seed.

Cultivation:
Easily grown from seed; sow in spring or autumn. It can tolerate a range of conditions and often grows wild along roadsides and fields.

Soil:
Prefers well-drained, moderately fertile soil but adapts to poor soils as well.

Sunlight:
Thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade.

Watering:
Moderate water needs; prefers consistent moisture but is somewhat drought-tolerant once established.

Uses:
Young leaves can be added to salads or soups, and the seeds are edible. It’s also used as a natural thickener in cooking.

Dyeing:
The flowers can produce a range of pale pinks and purples when used for dyeing.

Ornamental:
Attractive in cottage and wildflower gardens due to its colorful, delicate blooms.

Medicinal:
Traditionally used for its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties. It helps relieve coughs, sore throats, and skin irritations. The leaves and flowers are high in mucilage, which coats and soothes tissues.

Maintenance:
Low maintenance; cut back after flowering to prevent excessive self-seeding. It can be pruned to control its spread.