# Mallows (*Malva*)

Mallows are colorful flowers that bloom in shades of pink, purple, and white. They have soft, round leaves and can grow tall, making them a lovely sight in gardens and fields.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands
- **Also known as:** Cheese Plant

![Mallows](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Malva_parviflora_-_Habitus.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Malva_parviflora_-_Habitus.jpg)

## Appearance

The Mallows has soft, often rounded or heart-shaped leaves with distinct lobes. Its delicate, five-petaled flowers bloom in shades of pink, white, or purple, sometimes with darker veins radiating from the center. These cup-shaped blossoms are typically found in clusters along the stems.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Romans cultivated Mallows as a tasty and healthy vegetable!
- Its common name "Mallow" comes from a Greek word meaning "to soften"!
- Mallow leaves are known for their super-soft, velvety feel!
- The roots of some Mallows can be boiled down to make a sticky, natural glue!

## Special abilities

- **Mucilage Magic:** Mallows have a gooey substance called mucilage that helps them store water and can soothe irritated skin.
- **Deep Drinker Roots:** Mallows can grow a long, sturdy taproot, helping it find water deep underground during dry spells to survive.
- **Cheese Wheel Seeds:** Mallows grows unique round, segmented fruits that look like tiny cheese wheels, protecting its seeds for reproduction.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-150 cm
- **Spread:** 30-90 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-6 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** Painted Lady butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — Feeds on nectar from flowers
- **Parasitizes:** Mallow rust (*Puccinia malvacearum*) — Causes orange spots on leaves
- **Eats:** Spanish slug (*Arion vulgaris*) — Feeds on Mallow leaves

## Traits

- [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.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [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.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always check with an adult before picking any flowers.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Mallows?

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 Mallows?

30-150 cm

### How wide does Mallows spread?

30-90 cm

### How big are the flowers on Mallows?

2-6 cm

### When does Mallows bloom?

Summer to fall

### Is Mallows edible?

Yes

### Is Mallows toxic?

None

### What is Mallows's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Vista Meadows Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/vista-meadows-park) — California, US · Park

## 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: [Mallows: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mallows)