Malva pusilla aka Dwarf Mallow

Malva pusilla is a small member of the mallow family, Malvaceae. Its names include small mallow, dwarf mallow and Dutch cheeses. Kew lists its native range as temperate Eurasia, Chad and the Azores. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. It grows in waste ground, gardens, fields and orchards. Other sites include shores, grassy slopes and open ground.

This much-branched plant grows as an annual in most cases. Some plants live for two years or longer. Garden references give a height of about 1 foot [0.3 metres]. A broader account gives 0.7–1.6 feet [0.2–0.5 metres]. Several stems grow from a long, thin taproot. The stems often lie along the ground rather than stand upright. On some plants, they trail to 3.3 feet [1 metre].

Flowers appear from June to September, with seeds ripening from August to October. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects pollinate the flowers, and plants can also fertilise themselves. This mallow grows best in sun but accepts some shade. It prefers moist soil with good drainage and moderate fertility. It grows in sandy or loamy soil across a broad pH range. Sources differ on clay: one accepts it, while another warns against heavy clay. Plants tolerate strong winds, but not salt-laden coastal exposure.

This is an easy plant to grow in ordinary garden soil. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 5–9. Useful Tropical Plants reports cold tolerance to at least 5°F [−15°C]. Sow seeds where they will grow in early spring. Germination takes about two weeks under suitable conditions. Rust fungus can attack the plant, though rabbits seem to leave it alone. Its weed status is less clear. One source lists no weed potential; another calls it a widespread weed.

People have long grown this mallow as a leafy food crop. Eat the mild leaves raw in salads or cook them. The small seeds are also edible raw or cooked. Gather them before full ripeness for their nutty taste. They take time to collect because of their size. Leaves and seeds also have recorded uses in traditional medicine. The plant and seed heads yield cream, yellow and green dyes. Roots have served as toothbrushes. Sources report no known poisoning from this species. They also warn that some mallows accumulate nitrates in nitrogen-rich soil.