Malva moschata 'Musk Mallow'

[Ex. Co. Durham, England]

Malvaceae: a branched, hairy perennial to 75cm. found in dry, grassy places. The flowers are from 3-6cm across, pale pink, they form terminal clusters from July-August. Widespread and locally common in England and Wales, but scarce elsewhere in the country. Native to most of Europe, including Britain, south to North Africa.

USES:

The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, and have a mild pleasant flavour. The leaves are mucilaginous and fairly bland, we use them in bulk in summer salads. They make a very good perennial substitute for lettuce in a salad, producing fresh leaves from spring until the middle of summer, or until the autumn from spring germinating plants. The flowers can be used raw, and make a very decorative addition to the salad bowl, they have a very mild flavour.

All parts of the plant are antiphlogistic, astringent, demulcent, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, laxative, salve. The leaves and flowers can be eaten as part of the diet, or a tea can be made from the leaves, flowers or roots. The leaves and flowers are the main part used, their demulcent properties making them valuable as a poultice for bruise, inflammations, insect bites, or taken internally in the treatment of respiratory system diseases or inflammation of the digestive or urinary systems. They have similar properties, but are considered to be inferior, to the common mallow (M. sylvestris) and the marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) and are seldom used internally.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Best sown in early spring in a cold frame, germinates quickly and easily. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in their permanent positions in the early summer.

HARVESTED: 2023*

 
APPROX. 300+ SEEDS