Common Marshmallow
Althaea officinalis
Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Malvaceae
- Genus:
- Althaea
- Species:
- Althaea officinalis
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 3-4 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun, sep
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, white
- Food Forest:
- Plant contains edible parts
Native Range
United States: Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin, Canada: New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec
Host Plant for Caterpillars
cotton tipworm (Crocidosema plebejana), Platyedra subcinerea
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, moisture-retentive loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers marshy areas and riverbanks in native habitat