# dwarf mallow (*Malva neglecta*) Dwarf mallow is a small, leafy plant that grows close to the ground. It has pretty pink flowers that attract butterflies and bees, making it a lovely sight in gardens and fields. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 14 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![dwarf mallow](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Malva-neglecta-20070428.jpg&width=800) Photo: Luis Fernández García, CC BY-SA 2.5 es · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Malva-neglecta-20070428.jpg) ## Appearance The dwarf mallow is a low-growing plant with rounded, deeply lobed leaves resembling small lily pads. Its dainty, five-petaled flowers are typically pale pink or white with subtle darker veins, emerging from the leaf axils. It often forms spreading mats close to the ground. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malvales - **Family:** Malvaceae - **Genus:** Malva ## Interesting facts - Ancient Romans cultivated mallow and believed it had powerful healing properties for many ailments. - Its unique fruit looks exactly like a tiny wheel of cheese, which is why it's nicknamed "cheese plant"! - People have eaten dwarf mallow leaves and roots for thousands of years, especially in tough times. - This tough little plant can grow almost anywhere, from cracks in sidewalks to rich garden soil. ## Special abilities - **Seed Power:** Dwarf mallow can launch its 'cheese wheel' seeds, scattering them widely to find new places to grow. - **Deep Drinker:** It has a strong taproot that can reach deep into the soil, helping it survive dry spells and find water. - **Quick Sprout:** This plant can sprout and grow very quickly in disturbed soils, allowing it to colonize new areas fast. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-60 cm - **Spread:** 20-90 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Eats:** Mallow skipper (*Pyrgus malvae*) — caterpillars feed on leaves - **Eaten by:** [European rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — grazes on leaves and stems - **Eats:** Mallow leafminer (*Liriomyza malvae*) — larvae tunnel within leaves ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [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. - [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. - [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 - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before touching or eating any plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify dwarf mallow? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is dwarf mallow? 10-60 cm ### How wide does dwarf mallow spread? 20-90 cm ### How big are the flowers on dwarf mallow? 1-1.5 cm ### When does dwarf mallow bloom? Late spring to fall ### Is dwarf mallow edible? Yes ### Is dwarf mallow toxic? None ### What is dwarf mallow's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Arden Park–East Boston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arden-park-east-boston-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Clayton Public Schools Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clayton-public-schools-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/delaware-division-of-the-pennsylvania-canal) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic Site - [MacDougal-Sullivan Gardens Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/macdougal-sullivan-gardens-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Onondaga Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/onondaga-lake-park) — New York, US · Park - [Piquette Avenue Industrial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/piquette-avenue-industrial-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District [View all places to see dwarf mallow](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/dwarf-mallow) ## 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*) --- Source: [Dwarf Mallow: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dwarf-mallow)