Malva sylvestris subsp. mauritanica Seeds | Mauritian Mallow
LATIN NAME: Malva sylvestris subsp. Mauritanica
COMMON NAME: Mauritian Mallow
Plant Profile
Mauritian Mallow (Malva sylvestris subsp. Mauritanica) is a distinctive species in the family Malvaceae. Bees and other pollinators visit the flowers freely through the season. For the small amount of care it requires, the return is remarkable.
Science & Biotechnology
Within Malvaceae, Malva sylvestris subsp. Mauritanica is of continuing interest to researchers working on plant diversity, seed biology and the selection of improved garden forms. Malva species are useful in studies of mucilage, flavonoids, flower pigmentation and plant adaptation. Its behaviour in gardens is well recorded, thanks to a long history in cultivation.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Mauritian Mallow for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. Mallow is valued as an ornamental, wildlife-friendly and educational plant. Flowers bring colour to meadow-style borders, while foliage and flower structure provide useful material for botanical observation. Traditional uses of different mallow species vary by region and should not be assumed to apply equally to every cultivar or subspecies. It takes hold quickly and asks for no special treatment from then on.
Mallows are soothing mucilage herbs: the leaves and flowers brew a demulcent tea for dry throats, a use shared with their marshmallow cousins, and the young leaves are a mild, mineral-rich potherb.
Growing from Seed
Mauritian Mallow grows readily from seed. Sow seed in a loose, well-drained medium and cover lightly. Keep moisture even while seedlings establish, then plant in a sunny to lightly shaded position. Fill a pot with a light seed compost, sow evenly on the surface, cover thinly and stand it somewhere warm, bright and evenly moist. When the young plants are big enough to handle, space them into pots or a nursery row and let them size up before their final move.
Our Take
Mauritian Mallow is the kind of plant that rewards a permanent spot. Its wants are few — a sunny spot, soil that drains, and time to settle in.
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