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Musk Mallow Malva moschata

Previously known as:

  • Pelargonium Odoratissimum
Phonetic Spelling
MAL-vuh MOSS-kuh-ta
Description

Musk Mallow is a relatively small, herbaceous perennial, flowering bush native to Europe and Turkey in the Mallow family. It is often found along roadsides and open fields in North America. The plant will reach a mature height of about 3 feet, with a 2 foot spread. It has showy, fragrant, large pink flowers from early summer into fall.  As with the flowers, the foliage is musk-scented when crushed. The genus name is an ancient Latin name. The species name means musky.

Musk Mallow prefers full or partial sun, moist to dry conditions, and loam or sandy loam soil. The leaves can turn yellowish in hot dry weather and are occasionally damaged by foliar disease. The plant is not frost tender. This plant reproduces by reseeding itself.

Must Mallow tolerates strong winds, but will not do well with exposure to salt. These plants are generally short-lived, but self seed freely when in a suitable position and more than maintain themselves. If pruned back to the main branches as it comes into flower, it will produce a fresh flush of leaves in late summer.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems. Japanese beetles can be a problem.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#pink flowers#large flowers#fragrant fruits#flowers midsummer#flowers early summer#flowers late summer#flowers early fall#ornamental shrub
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#pink flowers#large flowers#fragrant fruits#flowers midsummer#flowers early summer#flowers late summer#flowers early fall#ornamental shrub
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Malva
    Species:
    moschata
    Family:
    Malvaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe south to North Africa
    Distribution:
    Northwestern Africa, Southern Canada south to North Carolina and to California on the west coast.
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts butterflies.
    Edibility:
    Leaves and flowers are additions to "wild" salads. The seeds are also edible.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Each flower is replaced by a ring of mericarps (hardened structures containing one or more seeds). The mericarps are about ¼ of an inch long, reniform, and hairless.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Saucer
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    1 1/2 inch pink flowers with five notched, wedge-shaped petals. Stamens are fused into a column. Musk-scented, rose-pink flowers appear in succession over a long bloom period of early summer to early fall. Flowers appear singly or in clusters in the upper leaf axils.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Palmasect
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Lobed
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    3 to 4 inch palmately veined leaves with narrowly toothed lobes. Small, finely-divided stem leaves are shallowly cut into 5-7 segments. Individual leaves are 1½ to 3¼ inches long and similarly across. The upper leaf surface is yellowish green to dark green and glabrous, while the lower leaf surface is light green and glabrous to slightly pubescent.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Angular
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Stems are light green, angular or terete, and glabrous to slightly pubescent
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Flowering Tree
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies