# Tree Mallow (*Malva arborea*)

Tree Mallow is a lovely plant with big, soft leaves and pretty pink flowers. It grows tall and can often be found near the coast, making it a cheerful sight in nature.

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

![Tree Mallow](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lavatera_arborea2.jpg&width=800)

Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lavatera_arborea2.jpg)

## Appearance

The Tree Mallow is a tall, woody-stemmed plant with large, cup-shaped, purplish-pink flowers often featuring darker veins. Its soft, velvety leaves are distinctly lobed, giving it a fuzzy appearance unlike many other coastal shrubs.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Romans and Greeks once cultivated this plant for both food and medicine.
- Despite its name, it's not a true tree but a very tall, woody herb!
- Its seed pods are shaped like tiny cheese wheels, which kids sometimes call 'cheeses'!
- Some people used to stuff pillows with its fluffy seeds for extra comfort.

## Special abilities

- **Salt-Resistant Survivor:** Tree Mallow can grow near the sea because its leaves and stems tolerate salty air and soil, helping it thrive in coastal areas.
- **Rapid Rebuilder:** Tree Mallow has a fast growth rate that helps it quickly establish and outcompete other plants, especially in disturbed sites.
- **Soothing Secretion:** Tree Mallow has mucilage in its leaves that helps it retain water and soothe irritation, aiding survival and defense.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-300 cm
- **Spread:** 50-150 cm
- **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer-autumn
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — visits flowers for nectar
- **Pollinates:** [Painted Lady](https://www.snappit.app/explore/painted-lady) (*Vanessa cardui*) — feeds on flower nectar

## 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.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [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.
- [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.
- [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.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants unless an adult says it's safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Tree 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 Tree Mallow?

100-300 cm

### How wide does Tree Mallow spread?

50-150 cm

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

3-5 cm

### When does Tree Mallow bloom?

Summer-autumn

### Is Tree Mallow edible?

Yes

### Is Tree Mallow toxic?

None

### What is Tree Mallow's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Cabrera Archipelago National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cabrera-archipelago-national-park) — Spain, ES · National Park
- [Lands End](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lands-end) — California, US · Natural Landmark

## 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: [Tree Mallow: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-mallow)