Malva trimestris
Annual mallow
Common names: Rose mallow, Cup mallow, Funnel mallow, Garden tree mallow
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Pot size
- from 10 l
- Lifespan
- Annual
- Flowering
- Jul–Oct
- Hardiness
- Cold damage below 0 °C
- Water need
- Medium
Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
The annual mallow, botanically Malva trimestris, grows in the Mediterranean region and is an annual, bushy summer flower. Depending on the variety, it reaches 60 to 120 cm in height and bears softly hairy, lobed leaves. From July to October, large, funnel- or cup-shaped flowers appear in pink or white with darker veins. They sit singly in the leaf axils and continue to open repeatedly until the first frost. Well-known varieties include 'Silver Cup' in pink and 'Mont Blanc' in white. In the garden, it fills summer flower beds, cottage gardens, and gaps in perennial borders as a backdrop, and it also looks good along a fence. Bees and bumblebees readily visit the flowers. It grows quickly: if sown in April, it blooms from July. In loose soils, it often self-seeds.
Care instructions
The annual mallow needs a sunny, warm spot that is as sheltered from wind as possible. Sow directly into the bed from mid-April, or plant pre-grown plants out after the Ice Saints, from calendar week 20. Allow about 40 cm of spacing so the bushes can branch. The soil should be permeable, humus-rich, and fresh. Water regularly during the first few weeks, then water thoroughly during dry spells, but not daily, and preferably at the soil rather than over the leaves. Support tall plants with a stake in windy conditions. Removing spent flowers encourages new buds until autumn. Watch for orange-brown pustules on the undersides of leaves, which indicate mallow rust. Remove infested leaves immediately and dispose of them in household waste. An airy position helps prevent it. Common mistakes include planting too densely, too little sun, and too much fertilizer.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
SowingMar–May
FloweringJul–Oct
Germination
- Soil temperature
- from 10 °C, ideally 18 °C
- Days to sprout
- 7 to 14 days
- Light
- Sprouts in light or dark
- Sowing depth
- 0.5 cm
- How to start
- Sow straight into the bed
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, humus-rich, loamy, sandy
The royal mallow grows best in well-drained, humus-rich and moderately nutrient-rich soil that is fresh, but never wet. Loamy sand and sandy loam are ideal, and whether the soil is slightly acidic or chalky hardly matters. On very heavy, waterlogged soil it struggles, and on very lean soil it stays low and flowers less. On compacted ground, loosen the soil deeply and work in some compost.
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
May–Jul
The royal mallow is a moderate feeder. When sowing or planting, work some mature compost into the soil; that is usually all it needs in the bed. On poor soil, you can top up once in June with diluted nettle liquid feed. In a container, give liquid fertiliser for flowering plants every two weeks from June to July. Too much nitrogen makes it tall, soft and prone to toppling over.
Overwintering
The royal mallow is an annual and dies with the first frost. You clear it away in autumn when flowering is over. If you leave individual seed heads standing, it often self-seeds in spring, and you can leave the seedlings there or move them. If you want to harvest your own seed, cut off the dry, brown seed heads and let them dry further in a paper bag.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
You propagate the royal mallow from seed. From mid-March, raise it in trays or, better, individually in small pots so that the root ball stays intact when planting out. From mid-April, sow directly into the bed: lay the seeds about 1 cm deep in loose soil, cover them lightly and later thin the seedlings to 40 cm apart. In warmth they germinate after one to three weeks. A second sowing in May extends flowering into autumn. Given the chance, the plant sows itself.
For your garden
Grow Annual mallow yourself
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