Description
Althaea officinalis | Marsh Mallow
Mallows are one of the most notable and important plant families in the world. They make wonderful ornamental garden plants and are widely cultivated as herbs and for food. There are over 1000 species of mallows, and although most of them are tropical, many are suitable as perennial ornamentals in temperate gardens.
Marsh Mallow (Marshmallow), also known as White Mallow and Joseph’s Staff, is a flowering plant native to Europe and Africa that grows in wet, marsh-type environments. In it’s first year it grows as a small, fuzzy rosette, and will send up tall, elegant, flower spikes during the second year and thereafter. The white flowers have pink centers and flared petals. Each plant sends up multiple spikes that bloom all along their height. Being a marsh plant, Marshmallow prefers moist or wet, rich soil. Adaptive, low maintenance, and easy to grow; they are perfect for filling in water-logged parts of the yard where most plants won’t do well.
Throughout history, the roots and sap have been enlisted for herbal uses, and Marshmallow makes a wonderful food source, too. The entire plant is edible and each part offers exceptional health benefits. Due to its mucilaginous nature, it can have a gelatinous texture that helps soothe the throat. Roots are often boiled to make tea, or can be eaten raw after being washed. Roots are best harvested in the fall or early spring, but they may take a couple years to reach good size first. The sweet sugar sap is distributed all throughout the plant and can make pruning quite messy.
The ancient Egyptians would mix the plant’s mucilaginous sap with honey and nuts to make a sweet confection. But most famously, the Marshmallow plant was used in the creation of the original marshmallow treat. The original version of the marshmallow included mallow root-sap, egg whites, and sugar, and it involved a very time-consuming process that prompted new and better developments to the recipe.
Direct sow seeds in the garden fall through spring, or start indoors with heat, humidity, and light. Germination may be improved with cold stratification of seeds.
Type: Perennial
Sun exposure: Full sun to light shade
Mature height: 4-6 ft
Mature width: 6-8 inches
Hardiness zones: 3-10