Althaea officinalis

Genus: Althaea

Species: officinalis

Family Name: Malvaceae

Seed Catalogue No.: 82J

English Name(s): Common Marsh Mallow

Hardiness: Hardy

Lifecycle: Perennial

Colour: Pink/Rose

Flowers: July, August, September

Lighting Conditions: Full Sun

Soil Type: Chalk, Sand, Loam

Soil Acidity: Alkaline, Neutral, Acid

Moisture: Well-drained

Germination Instructions

Sow indoors in spring or directly. Surface sow individual seeds 20mm apart onto moist, well-drained seed compost. Just cover seed with a sprinkling of soil. Ideal temp. 15-21°C. Germination takes 10-14 days. Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle, 3-4 weeks later, into individual pots. Handle leaves only, the stem is fragile. Grow on in bright cool conditions. Acclimatise and plant out in May/ June. Can be sown into a cold frame in mid summer and planted out the following spring.

Growing Instructions

Prefers a well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun, against a sunny wall is ideal. May require staking in exposed sites. This genus can be prone to rust fungus, treat with fungicide if desired.

Cultivation Instructions

Propagate by seed. Cut back after flowering. Will self-seed. self-seeded plants will try to creep towards the sunny front of a border. Dig these up and pot, once established replant towards the back of the border.

When to Sow

• Sow Under Cover/Plant Indoors
• Direct Sow/Plant Outdoors
• Flowers/Harvest

Approximate number of seeds per packet: 146

Please note we pack the majority of our seeds by volume so the number of seeds indicated is only an approximation.