What Is Malva Verticillata?

Malva Verticillata

• Malva verticillata belongs to the large plant family Malvaceae, or mallow family. The mallow family includes woody shrubs, herbaceous perennials, annuals and biennials. Relatives include hollyhocks and hibiscus, as well as the vegetable okra. Mallow plants, often called "hardy hibiscus," produce large flowers similar to hibiscus flowers and grow in temperate climates. Malva verticillata originated in East Asia, where it grows in open grasslands and fields. Common names include "cluster mallow," "Chinese mallow" and "whorled mallow."

Growth Habit

• Malva verticillata grows 5 to 6 feet tall, with fleshy green or pale purple stems and bright green leaves. The flowers emerge in the summer, commonly between July and September. Plant Malva verticillata in a sunny spot or an area that gets light shade. Choose an area where the soil remains damp or that has easy access to water. This plant does not like to dry out. Water the soil when the surface begins to feel dry.

A Tender Vegetable

• Grow Malva verticillata in the vegetable garden. The tender young green leaves make a tasty and fresh addition to salads. Harvest a few leaves from each plant through the summer for a continued supply of fresh greens. Harvest the new shoots and seedlings for salads, stir fries and summer soups. If you want to harvest the seedlings, stagger planting times over several weeks in the spring for a continued harvest. Plant the first crop as soon as the last frost date passes and then at two-week intervals until late spring.

Propagation and Planting

• The seeds develop in the late summer, between August and October. Collect the seeds as they dry on the plant, and store them in a cool, dry place. Breaking dormancy for germination can be tough when growing Malva verticillata from seed. Scarify the seeds by nicking the hard outer coat or rubbing the seeds between two pieces of sandpaper. Sow the seeds in damp sand and keep them at 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The seeds will germinate within 14 days.