MALLOW
Family MALVACEAE
Malva species
Annual
A showy race native to Europe. They may all be
treated as hardy annuals in Britain.
The most important species are Malva borealis,
reaching a height of two to three feet, with pale
pink flowers;
Malva crsipa, the Curled Mallow, with flowers
whitish and a quarter of an inch across, borne
on unbranched stems, three to six feet tall;
Malva nicaensis, one and a half feet, of erect
habit and with small pale blue flowers in dense
clusters.
The most effective is perhaps Malva sylvestris,
a biennial usually treated as an annual, three
feet high with rosy-purple flowers, over an inch
across.
Its best form is var. mauritanica, reaching four
feet and having larger flowers with more pronounced
stripes.
Seed is best sown under glass, temperature 55º
F., in March or April, and transplanted outdoors,
one or one and a half feet apart, in late May
or early June.
The position should be in full sun and the soil
well drained.
Propagation is from seed.
The flowering period is from early July onwards.
See also : Musk Mallow,
Malope and Lavetera
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