# marsh mallow (*Althaea officinalis*) Marsh mallow is a soft, fluffy plant that grows in wet places. It has pretty pink or white flowers and big green leaves. People have used it for a long time to make sweet treats and medicine! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Marshmallow plant ![marsh mallow](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Althea_officinalis_flor.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Althea_officinalis_flor.jpg) ## Appearance The marsh mallow has tall, upright stems covered in soft, velvety leaves. Its delicate, five-petaled flowers are typically pale pink to white, often with a slightly darker center, clustered in leaf axils. It often appears quite bushy with a grayish-green hue due to its fine hairs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malvales - **Family:** Malvaceae - **Genus:** Althaea ## Interesting facts - All parts of the marsh mallow plant, from leaves to roots, are edible and have been enjoyed for centuries! - Its scientific name, Althaea, means "to heal" in Greek, reflecting ancient soothing uses. - The fluffy, sugary treat "marshmallow" was first made from this plant's sweet roots! - This plant is covered in tiny, soft hairs that give its leaves a fuzzy, velvety feel! ## Special abilities - **Mucilage Magic:** Marsh mallow has special gooey substances (mucilage) that help it store water and soothe irritations in the body. - **Deep Root Diver:** Marsh mallow can grow very long taproots, helping it reach deep water sources in its damp, marshy habitats. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-150 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to early autumn - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collecting its sweet nectar - **Pollinates:** [Bumblebee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bumblebee) (*Bombus terrestris*) — Helping spread its pollen - **Eats:** [Common Cockchafer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-cockchafer) (*Melolontha melolontha*) — Larvae feeding on its roots ## Traits - [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. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [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. - [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. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before touching or tasting any plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify marsh 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 marsh mallow? 60-150 cm ### How wide does marsh mallow spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on marsh mallow? 2-4 cm ### When does marsh mallow bloom? Summer to early autumn ### Is marsh mallow edible? Yes ### Is marsh mallow toxic? None ### What is marsh mallow's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Clinton Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clinton-hill-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [MacDougal-Sullivan Gardens Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/macdougal-sullivan-gardens-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Botanischer Garten Frankfurt am Main](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/botanischer-garten-frankfurt-am-main) — Hessen, DE · Park - [Salburua Wetlands Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/salburua-wetlands) — País Vasco, ES · Park [View all places to see marsh mallow](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/marsh-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: [Marsh Mallow: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/marsh-mallow)