How to Care for Malva

Malva is a genus of annual and perennial plants that are also known as mallow. Malva sylvestris (high mallow) and Malva moschata (musk mallow) are two of the more commonly cultivated species. Malva looks attractive in borders or beds and complements other plants within a woodland-themed garden. It's an easy plant to care for if grown within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5a through 8b.

Fungicide
Pruning snips

Instructions

- 1
  Grow the malva in full sun, in any type of soil.
- 2
  Water the malva when your finger poked into the soil comes out dry. Overwatering may rot the roots.
- 3
  Pinch the tips of new stems to encourage the malva to produce more. Use your fingers or pruning snips to clip off 1/2 inch from the tip.
- 4
  Deadhead the flowers before they have a chance to produce seed. Some malva species readily self-seed and may be invasive.
- 5
  Inspect the malva periodically for signs of rust, a fungal disease to which it is particularly susceptible. Symptoms of rust include orange or yellow spots on the top part of the foliage and orange to brown bumps on the lower part of the leaves. Spray the plant with a fungicide containing the active ingredient myclobutanil or triticonazole. You may need to repeat the application, so read the instructions on the label.

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