# Sea Mallow (*Malva subovata*)

Sea Mallow is a pretty plant that grows near the coast. It has soft, green leaves and beautiful pink flowers that attract butterflies and bees!

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

![Sea Mallow](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lavatera_maritima3.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Franco christophe, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lavatera_maritima3.jpg)

## Appearance

The Sea Mallow is a robust, low-growing plant with woody stems and distinctive grey-green, lobed leaves. Its five-petaled flowers bloom in vibrant shades of pink or purple, often with darker veins, creating a bright splash of color against coastal landscapes.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Romans and Greeks once valued Sea Mallow leaves, using them in their cooking!
- Its unique, disc-shaped seed pods are often called 'cheeses' by curious coastal explorers!
- The Sea Mallow produces a soothing goo often used in folk remedies for irritated skin!
- This tough plant is a survival expert, growing happily even in salty sea air and strong winds!

## Special abilities

- **Salt Shield:** Sea Mallow can grow right by the sea because it has special glands to cope with and excrete excess salt.
- **Sand Anchor:** Sea Mallow has deep, extensive roots that help it stay firmly in place in shifting sand dunes and loose coastal soil.
- **Water Reserve:** Sea Mallow produces a special mucilage in its tissues, helping it store water during dry periods on the coast.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-100 cm
- **Spread:** 40-80 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar
- **Eats:** [Garden Snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Feeds on its leaves
- **Eaten by:** [European Rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — Forages on coastal plants

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [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.
- [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water.
- [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.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
- [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 look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Sea 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 Sea Mallow?

30-100 cm

### How wide does Sea Mallow spread?

40-80 cm

### How big are the flowers on Sea Mallow?

2-4 cm

### When does Sea Mallow bloom?

Summer to fall

### Is Sea Mallow edible?

Yes

### Is Sea Mallow toxic?

None

### What is Sea Mallow's lifecycle?

Perennial

## 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: [Sea Mallow: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sea-mallow)