Malva moschata f. alba

WHITE

MUSK MALLOW

Malva moschata f. alba
WHITE MUSK MALLOW

Malva moscahta f. alba – the “White Musk Mallow” – looks a dainty and delicate plant with pretty flowers and attractive foliage.

Dainty & delicate looks, but tough & hardy as old boots

But it is actually as tough and hardy as old boots.
It has always been a popular, easy to grow, low maintenance, old favourite cottage perennial. Because of its tough constitution, useful edible flowers and foliage, and companion plant qualities.

Pure white singles like silken Hollyhocks 

Pure white single flowers – like silken Hollyhocks – are stacked upon 60cm. tall flower spires.
Many people mistake it for a lower growing Hollyhock.

But a smaller neater Hollyhock

So indeed the whole plant looks and behaves like a smaller, neater, but better behaved Hollyhock.
Though Malva moschata f. alba is equally hardy, tough and easy to grow as the taller Hollyhocks.
And equally spectacular in bloom as Hollyhocks, though better suited to smaller and dry gardens.

Self supporting & not prone to blowing over

So this is the fake Hollyhock everyone can have, even in windy and exposed sites.
As the flower spires do not need staking.

Scented blossoms through summer & autumn

The blooms of Malva moschata f. alba also have a beautiful sweet fragrance (unlike unscented Hollyhocks).
And the sweet blooms keep coming all through summer and well into autumn, giving off that delightful musk scent.

Scented foliage too

The foliage of the “White Musk Mallow” is also sweetly scented of musk.
So it is a lovely plant to brush past, or even to harvest the leaves to dry for pot-pourri.

Cut sweetly scented spires for floristry

Cut stems of Malva moschata f. alba are also excellent for vases – just the right size and wafting that beautiful scent into the room.

Edible flowers & foliage

Plus Malva moschata f. alba is a boon for cooks.
Because the both the flowers and foliage are edible.

Use as a savoury vegetable

To use in the kitchen – Toss tender young leaves into salads, and cook older leaves like Spinach (delicious with pine nuts & melted butter), or use them in soups and casseroles.

Or in sweet desserts & drinks

While the flowers are sweetly flavoured and so perfect for desserts, cakes, edible flower sprinkles and cocktail / punch drinks.
The seeds are also traditionally eaten raw as a healthy snack.
And the flowers and foliage have long been used to distil liquors.

For dye & papermaking

While the foliage and flowers are traditional dye plants and used for paper-making.
This is the plant that just keeps on giving.

Nectar feast for bees & pollinators 

The nectar rich blooms of Malva moschata f. alba haul the useful pollinators into your garden, and keep them there with such a long blooming season.

Traditional companion plant for fruit & vegetables

So it has always been a traditional companion plant for vegetable and fruit gardens.

Care free & low maintenance

Malva moschata f. alba is blissfully carefree to grow and untroubled by pests and diseases.
As long as it is planted in full sun, or just a little shade (it will become lanky in too much shade).

Highly tolerant of air pollution & poor soils

It is also highly tolerant of urban air pollution.
And copes well with soils of low fertility; of a wide pH range from acid to alkaline; sandy, gravel or loam; as long as the soil is  well drained.

Frost hardy & water-wise

Malva moschata f. alba is undaunted by frosts and well able to tolerate temperatures down to -25°C.
Similarly it is able to tolerate summer heat, as a native to areas of extreme temperature ranges, such a Turkey and Spain.
Plus it is a water-wise plant, needing very little additional watering.

Low maintenance

While White Musk Mallow can survive quite well without any help from a brown-thumbed gardener.
It will repay a chop back of spent flower stems in late summer – by shooting back very quickly with another abundant crop of flower spires for autumn.
Cut back hard to ground in winter to make room for wonderful new growth in spring and another year of flower spires.

Hardy perennial

60-70cm. tall flower spires  x 45cm wide clump of decorative foliage.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

Seeds of Malva moschata f. alba can be sown in spring or autumn,
or at any time indoors when suitable temperatures can be provided (18-22°C).
OR
Scattered directly in the garden in autumn, late winter or early spring.

Sow Indoors for early plants: Sow the seeds in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Now gently pat the seeds to the surface to ensure good contact.
Then barely cover with mix or fine sandy grit – because these seeds need light to germinate.
So not cover deeply.

Tip for improving germination rates & speed: Before sowing – gently rub the seeds between 2 sheets to fine sandpaper to abrade the seed to allow moisture to be taken up more quickly.
because seeds of Malva moschata f. alba have a hard casing, which makes it difficult for moisture to penetrate. This can slow down germination.

Now thoroughly moisten the sown punnet by standing it in a shallow water bath.
And allowing the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below.

Seeds like warmth to germinate

Then place punnet in a warm, well-lit position (not in any direct sunlight).

Temperatures of 18-22°C approx. are best for rapid and optimum germination.
You can use a heat mat if you have one, but it is not essential as these seeds are quick and willing germinators.

Continue to keep consistently moist by misting regularly from a spray water-bottle.
Placing a plastic lid or bag over the sown punnet will help to maintain consistent moisture.

Seedlings emerge in approx. 14-21 days.

Scatter seeds directly in the garden:
Scatter in a full sun position in soil that drains well and rake in gently.|
Continue to keep consistently moist for germination.

Seed Count: 70 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).

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