Malva alcea aka Pink Mallow

Taxonomy

Malva alcea, also known as greater musk-mallow, cut-leaved mallow, vervain mallow, or hollyhock mallow, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the mallow family. It is native to southwestern, central, and eastern Europe, as well as southwestern Asia, spanning from Spain to southern Sweden and eastward to Russia and Turkey. The plant can grow up to 50-125 cm tall, with stems covered in stellate hairs. Its leaves are palmately lobed with five to seven blunt lobes, with basal leaves on the lower stem being shallowly lobed, while those higher on the stems are deeply divided with digitate finger-like lobes. Vervain mallow produces bright pink, unscented flowers that are 3.5-6 cm in diameter and appear singly near the apex of corymbose racemes growing from the leaf axils during summer to early fall. It is most commonly found in drier soils in thickets, along paths, and in waste places and can grow at altitudes of up to 2,000 m in central Europe. The plant has been widely grown outside of its native range as an ornamental plant, with several cultivars existing, such as 'Fastigata,' an upright form, and 'Alba,' a white flowered form. However, it can also escape from cultivation and become naturalized in some areas, such as the northeastern United States, where it is often confused with Malva moschata. As a houseplant, Vervain Mallow is rare but not challenging to grow, requiring regular watering and long-lasting, direct light less than one foot from a window. It thrives in well-draining soil and may benefit from gentle, organic fertilizer during the peak growing season.

Common names

Pink Mallow, Greater Musk Mallow, Cut Leaf Mallow, Vervain Mallow, European Mallow

How to care for Pink Mallow

Difficulty

Even if you don't have a green thumb, you can successfully care for Pink Mallow due to its easy-going nature.

Water

Pink Mallow should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Soil

Pink Mallow loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

Lighting

Pink Mallow thrives in bright and direct sunlight. To ensure your plant receives enough light to survive, place it less than one foot from a window. The current weather in your area may affect the placement in your home. For example, if you live in a region that has longer and more intense periods of sunlight, then you may want to place the plant farther away from the window to avoid direct sunlight and reduce the risk of sunburn. Alternatively, if you live in a region with relatively milder temperatures and less intense sunlight, then you may be able to place the plant closer to the window for increased exposure. Ultimately, the current weather in your area should be taken into consideration when determining the best placement for your Hollyhock.

Toxicity

There is no verified data on the toxicity of this plant in the records of Ploi. If any person, including yourself, a family member, or a pet, consume plant material with an uncertain toxicity level, it is advisable to seek the advice of a healthcare expert.

Region of origin

Pink Mallow’s native range is Europe. An occasional casual in Britain.


More info:
Wikipedia