# Cretan mallow (*Malva multiflora*)

Cretan mallow is a cheerful plant with lovely pink flowers. It grows in warm places and is often found in gardens, bringing beauty and color to the world around us.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 2
- **Habitat:** Urban areas

![Cretan mallow](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Malva_multiflora_kz3.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Malva_multiflora_kz3.jpg)

## Appearance

The Cretan mallow has soft, rounded, palmate leaves and delicate, cup-shaped flowers. Its petals are typically a vibrant pink or purplish-pink, often marked with darker veins radiating from the center, making it stand out in fields.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Malvales
- **Family:** Malvaceae
- **Genus:** Malva

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Romans prized mallow leaves, using them as a common leafy green vegetable!
- Its unique seeds are shaped like tiny wheels of cheese, earning it the nickname 'cheese plant'.
- Mallow roots, when boiled, can create a thick, gooey liquid used in traditional remedies!
- The plant's scientific name, Malva, comes from a Greek word meaning 'soft' or 'to soften'.

## Special abilities

- **Drought Buster:** Cretan mallow has a strong taproot that helps it find deep water, allowing it to survive in dry, sunny environments.
- **Seed Spreader:** Cretan mallow can produce many seeds that easily disperse, ensuring new plants grow and thrive year after year.
- **Soothing Secret:** Cretan mallow contains a slimy substance called mucilage that helps the plant retain water and can soothe irritations.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-90 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — An important pollinator.
- **Eaten by:** painted lady butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — Its caterpillars feed on leaves.

## Traits

- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)
- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before touching or picking any plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Cretan mallow?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Cretan mallow?

30-90 cm

### How wide does Cretan mallow spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Cretan mallow?

1-3 cm

### When does Cretan mallow bloom?

Spring to fall

### Is Cretan mallow edible?

Yes

### Is Cretan mallow toxic?

None

### What is Cretan mallow's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Point Dume State Beach](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/point-dume-state-beach) — California, US · State Park
- [Golden Hill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/golden-hill) — California, US · Neighborhood

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Cretan mallow: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cretan-mallow)