Mallow Wort Malope trifida
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- mal-OH-pay TREE-fee-duh
- Description
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Mallow Wort is a flowering annual in the large Malvaceae family, which includes hundreds of plants more commonly known as mallows. It is often used as a border plant, an ornamental, or grown for cut flowers. It is a tall plant, reaching 5 feet high, with a red, trumpet-like flower on a single, stout stem. In the wild, flowers are deep purplish-red, but in cultivation, flowers blossom in shades of white, pink or red.
The Mallow tolerates average soil although compost and occasional fertilizer adds to its health and bloom potential. It tolerates some dryness, but needs regular watering if rain is absent. Removing or deadheading spent flowers encourages new flower growth. Blooms can occur from mid-summer through early fall with maintenance and regular watering as needed. Although an annual in the mid-Atlantic areas, it arose in warmer Mediterranean regions and can be a perennial in tropical climates.
It is readily available as seeds that should be sown after the last frost in the Spring.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
![Malope trifid](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Malope-trifida--KEW--CC-BY-NC.jpg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Malope-trifida--KEW-_KMgEnXlsomvs.jpeg)
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Malope
- Species:
- trifida
- Family:
- Malvaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Portugal, Spain, Malta, and northwest Africa
- Distribution:
- Britain, France, central Europe, and southern Russia.
- Wildlife Value:
- pollinator
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are cup shaped, about 2.5 inches long with 5 petals and blossom in solid colors of near white, red and pink.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Shape:
- Orbicular
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are broadly ovate to suborbicular, 3/4 inches long and broad, serrate, sometimes 3 to 5-lobed and nearly glabrous.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies