Low Mallow
Malva pusilla
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Austria, Azores, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chad, China, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Иван Шихалев https://www.inaturalist.org/people/shikhalev (www.inaturalist.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Malvaceae
- Genus:
- Malva
- Species:
- Malva pusilla
- USDA Symbol:
- MAPU5
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Biennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink, lavender
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Agrotis orthogonia, Alfalfa Looper (Autographa californica), beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), Black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon), corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), cotton tipworm (Crocidosema plebejana), Grammia nevadensis, Malvaceous Moth (Mimoschinia rufofascialis), Yellow scallop moth (Anomis erosa), West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment; light may improve germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI