High Mallow
Malva sylvestris • Malvaceae
🌱 Seed Category
Flower
🌍 Origin Region
Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia
📅 Days to Maturity
Flowers in 70 to 90 days from direct sowing. Blooms continuously throughout the summer and into autumn.
🌡️ Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8, often grown as an annual or short-lived perennial.
About This Seed
Seeds are disk-shaped, brown to gray, and arranged in a circular ring like a small cheese wheel. The mature plant is an erect, branching herbaceous perennial or biennial growing 3 to 4 feet tall, featuring lobed leaves and striking, dark-veined bright purplish-pink flowers.
Growing Information
Growing Season
Spring to early summer planting, moderate frost tolerance
Germination
Germinates in 7 to 14 days at 65-70°F. High germination rate. Lightly cover seeds. No special pre-treatment is strictly required, though a light scarification can speed up germination.
Planting Instructions
Plant 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep, spaced 18 to 24 inches apart in well-draining, loamy soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade, about 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Moderate watering with good drought tolerance once established.
Companion Plants
Grows well near roses, lavender, and herbs like rosemary and thyme. Avoid planting near heavy feeders that require entirely different soil moisture regimes.
Special Characteristics
Highly pollinator-friendly, attracting bees and butterflies. Exhibits good drought tolerance, heat tolerance, and deer resistance. All parts of the plant are edible.