Marshmallow
Althaea officinalis
Also listed as Althaea balearica, Althaea kragujevacensis
Also known as Common Marshmallow, European Marsh-mallow, White-mallow
Climate Match for your location
See how well Marshmallow grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
A tall perennial herb with soft, downy leaves and pale pink or white flowers, traditionally used for medicinal purposes. Thrives in wet or marshy conditions and produces mucilaginous roots valued in herbal medicine.
Why grow it
Marshmallow offers a reliable source of mucilage-rich roots for herbal preparation, with a larger root system than many alternative demulcent herbs. It establishes readily in poorly drained sites where many ornamental perennials struggle, making it useful for marginal land or rain garden applications. As a perennial that tolerates wet conditions without supplemental irrigation once established, it requires less maintenance than moisture-dependent annuals in appropriate settings.
Watch out for
Plants can spread vegetatively from root fragments and self-seed in favorable conditions, potentially requiring management to contain them to intended areas. Harvest timing and root maturity affect mucilage yield, so propagation and harvest protocols should be researched before cultivation at scale. The soft foliage and stems are attractive to slugs and other generalist herbivores, particularly in humid climates.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Malvaceae
Native Range
Eastern Mediterranean, Western Asia, Egypt
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A tall perennial herb with soft, downy leaves and pale pink or white flowers, traditionally used for medicinal purposes. Thrives in wet or marshy conditions and produces mucilaginous roots valued in herbal medicine.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Marshmallow grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Marshmallow offers a reliable source of mucilage-rich roots for herbal preparation, with a larger root system than many alternative demulcent herbs. It establishes readily in poorly drained sites where many ornamental perennials struggle, making it useful for marginal land or rain garden applications. As a perennial that tolerates wet conditions without supplemental irrigation once established, it requires less maintenance than moisture-dependent annuals in appropriate settings.
Watch out for
Plants can spread vegetatively from root fragments and self-seed in favorable conditions, potentially requiring management to contain them to intended areas. Harvest timing and root maturity affect mucilage yield, so propagation and harvest protocols should be researched before cultivation at scale. The soft foliage and stems are attractive to slugs and other generalist herbivores, particularly in humid climates.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Malvaceae
Native Range
Eastern Mediterranean, Western Asia, Egypt
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Similar herbs you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.