# Malva erecta

Malva erecta, also known as the erect mallow, is a cheerful plant with pretty pink flowers. It grows in sunny places and is loved by bees and butterflies!

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

![Malva erecta](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mallow_January_2008-1.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mallow_January_2008-1.jpg)

## Appearance

The Malva erecta has sturdy, upright stems bearing numerous delicate purplish-pink flowers, each with five distinct petals. Its soft, rounded, deeply lobed leaves appear along the stem, giving it a somewhat bushy appearance.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Romans and Egyptians valued mallow as both a common vegetable and a healing plant.
- Its small, round seeds are called 'cheeses' because they look like mini cheese wheels!
- Parts of the plant, especially the leaves and flowers, can be added to salads or brewed as tea!
- The word "mallow" comes from a Greek word meaning "soft," referring to its gentle leaves.

## Special abilities

- **Deep Root Power:** Malva erecta has a strong taproot that helps it find water deep underground and survive dry spells.
- **Seed Shower:** Malva erecta produces many seeds, shaped like tiny cheeses, ensuring new plants grow easily each year.
- **Mucilage Magic:** Malva erecta contains a gooey substance called mucilage, which helps soothe irritations and heal cuts.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-100 cm
- **Spread:** 20-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to early autumn
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Biennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Eaten by:** [Painted Lady](https://www.snappit.app/explore/painted-lady) (*Vanessa cardui*) — Larvae sometimes feed on mallow leaves.
- **Eats:** [European Goldfinch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-goldfinch) (*Carduelis carduelis*) — Feeds on the mature seeds of mallow plants.
- **Parasitizes:** Cotton Aphid (*Aphis gossypii*) — Sucks sap from stems and 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.
- [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.
- [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 picking plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Malva erecta?

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 Malva erecta?

30-100 cm

### How wide does Malva erecta spread?

20-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Malva erecta?

1-3 cm

### When does Malva erecta bloom?

Summer to early autumn

### Is Malva erecta edible?

Yes

### Is Malva erecta toxic?

None

### What is Malva erecta's lifecycle?

Biennial

## 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: [Malva erecta: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/malva-erecta)