Marsh Mallow

(Althaea officinalis)

 

Color photograph: Homer D. House. 1918. Wildflowers of New York.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis)

Alien: Native of Europe.

Identification: Flowers white to light pink, with 5 petals. Stamens purple, arranged in a bushy, central column. Flowers about 1 to 1.5 inches in width, either solitary or in small clusters from the leaf axils. Stem and foliage downy, soft to the touch, grayish green. Leaves with coarsely toothed outer margins. Lower leaves typically 3 lobed and heart-shaped. Plant 2 to 4 feet in height.

Distribution: Found locally along the Atlantic Coast from Massachusetts to Virginia. Also occurs in scattered populations in other parts of the eastern and central United States.

Habitat: Marsh Mallow is usually found along marsh edges.

Flowering period: August to October.

Comments: The root of this species originally provided the mucilaginous material used in making marshmallows.

Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis)

Similar Species:

The soft, gray-green foliage is usually sufficient to identify this species.

Similar Species

No Similar Species