Common Mallow

Malva sylvestris

Family: MalvaceaeNative: Europe, North Africa, and temperate AsiaIdentified: Aug 18, 2026

An herbaceous plant featuring alternate, lobed leaves with serrated margins, covered in fine hairs, growing upright from a central stem.

Light: Full sun to partial shade, ideally 6 or more hours of direct sunlight daily
Water: Moderate watering needs; allow the top layer of soil to dry out between waterings. Drought tolerant once established.
Growth: Herbaceous perennial growing up to 3 to 4 feet tall with a similar spread, featuring an upright and branching growth habit

Care instructions

Provide full sun to partial shade, water regularly when the topsoil dries out, and plant in well-draining soil with moderate fertility.

Full sun to partial shade, ideally 6 or more hours of direct sunlight daily

Moderate watering needs; allow the top layer of soil to dry out between waterings. Drought tolerant once established.

Well-draining loamy, sandy, or clay soils with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH range of 6.0 to 7.5

USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8

Herbaceous perennial growing up to 3 to 4 feet tall with a similar spread, featuring an upright and branching growth habit

Summer to early autumn, producing distinct pinkish-purple flowers with dark veining

Propagated easily through seeds sown directly in spring or via stem cuttings

Susceptible to fungal rust diseases and occasional aphid infestations, managed through proper air circulation and spacing

Alcea rosea (hollyhock), which features much larger, taller spikes of flowers and coarser foliage