Malva trimestris aka Annual Mallow

Malva trimestris, also known as annual mallow, rose mallow, royal mallow, and common annual tree mallow, is a flowering plant native to the Mediterranean region. It is an annual plant that can grow up to 120 cm tall and 45 cm wide. In the summer, it produces shallow funnel-shaped flowers in shades of white and pink, with maroon centers and veining on the petals. This plant has a growing and flowering period of three months, hence its Latin name trimestris. It is widely cultivated and many cultivars, such as the 'Beauty Series' and 'Silver Cup', have been developed for garden use. These cultivars are annuals that need to be sown in spring for flowering in the same year. The plant prefers rocky grounds and areas with poor exposure to full sunlight, and it can grow up to 1500 meters in height. Another related species, Malva tournefortiana, is found in the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, and northern Morocco. It is a single grass plant that grows up to 120 cm tall and 45 cm wide. The leaves are ovate-rounded with sawn parts, and the flowers are clustered on single stems, ranging in color from white to erysipelas. The fruit of Malva trimestris is a capsule formed by several mericarps that separate and contain a single seed when ripe. Pollination of the plant occurs mainly through insects, but it can also be self-pollinated.