How to Identify Mallow

Look for the first signs of common mallow growth in early spring if your location has cold winters and in fall and early winter if you are in a mild, Mediterranean climate. The plant's cotyledons, a set of tiny smooth, green seed leaves, emerge first.

Examine plant leaves during common mallow's active growth period. Look for dark-green leaves that have a palm or rounded shape with lobed, slightly serrated edges as well as leaves with a leathery texture covered with fine hairs.

Look for common mallow's flowers from April until the first winter freeze or year-round in a mild climate. The flowers have five petals that form a cup shape. Although the flowers appear to be all white from a distance, you will see pale pink stripes on the petals if you inspect them closely.

Watch for a plant that is 1 to 2 feet tall and has stems that have a red tint and grow laterally from the plant's center. Common mallow doesn't spread by creeping stems.

Look for seedpods about 15 days after flowers appear on a plant you suspect is common mallow. Common mallow's round-edged, flat seedpods start out green and mature to light brown.Examine the seedpods closely for 10 to 15 distinct sections. Break open one seedpod. A common mallow seedpod has one seed in each section of its sections.

Check the roots of a suspected common mallow plant. Pull up the plant by using your gloved hands or a garden fork as early in spring as possible. In spring, or any other time a common mallow plant is in its first stages of growth, its roots dislodge easily from soil. Later in the plant's growth stages, its roots are more difficult to remove. Common mallow has a single deep taproot with small, hairlike feeder roots extending from it.