1 named cultivar

‘Zebrina’Zebrina Mallow

perennial

Mallow

Malva sylvestris

The Story

Plant Bio

Malva sylvestris, common or high mallow, is an upright perennial from northern Europe, northern Africa and southwestern Asia, standing two to four feet high and two to three across. Rounded lobed leaves clothe branching stems, and rose-purple flowers with darker radiating stripes open in succession from July to September along the upper stems.

It is short-lived and often behaves as a biennial, but it self-seeds so freely that a colony persists without any help, which suits a wildflower meadow better than a formal border. Rust develops on the foliage almost every year as summer wears on; it disfigures rather than kills, and removing the worst leaves is enough.

Uses & Benefits:

Rose-purple flowers with dark radiating stripes, carried in succession over a long late-summer season.

Self-seeds into a persistent colony with no replanting, and tolerates a wide range of ordinary soils.

Open mallow flowers are readily worked by bees over months when many border plants are finished.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

36 inches

Width

24 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Water

Medium

Humidity

Average

Lifespan

Perennial, often short-lived

Native To

Northern Europe, northern Africa and southwestern Asia

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Sow or plant in spring in full sun to part shade.
Choose average, medium-moisture, well-drained soil.
Space plants around two feet apart.
Water moderately; it tolerates some dryness.
Remove rust-affected lower leaves as summer goes on.
Leave some seed to fall so the colony renews.

Pro Tip

Treat it as a self-renewing colony rather than a permanent plant; individual specimens rarely last more than a few years.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Give it full sun to part shade ☀️
Let some seed fall to renew the patch 🌱
Remove rust-affected leaves in late summer 🍂
Use it in cottage plantings and meadows 🌸

Don't

Expect individual plants to be long-lived ❌
Crowd it and worsen the annual rust ❌
Plant it in wet, poorly drained ground ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Sow
Tidy

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Cottage garden and mixed border plantingWildflower meadowInformal filler among perennials

Companion Plants

Hollyhock Yarrow Ox-Eye Daisy Cornflower Catmint

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Mallow questions

What zones can Mallow grow in?

Mallow is hardy in USDA Zones 4–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Mallow deer resistant?

Yes — Mallow is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Mallow bloom?

Mallow typically blooms in midsummer to early fall through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Mallow need full sun?

Mallow does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Mallow drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Mallow handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.