- Botanical name: Malva moschata
- Common name: Musk mallow
- Family: Malvaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial
Pink
Green
- Key features:
- Attractive to wildlife
- Flowers
- Succeeds on poor soil
Musk mallow (Malva moschata) is a perennial wildflower native to southern England, and closely related to the common mallow (Malva sylvestris). It’s now found all over the British Isles and is common in hedgerows, field margins and along roadside verges. It has pretty pink summer flowers with a gentle, musky fragrance.
Musk mallow does best in dry soils and is a popular choice for cottage garden schemes and wildlife gardens. It’s sometimes grown as part of a perennial wildflower meadow. It makes an excellent cut flower – indeed its musky fragrance is enhanced when the flowers are brought indoors.
For garden use, the white-flowered variety ‘Snow White’ is most common.
How to identify musk mallow
Musk mallow has small, saucer-shaped baby pink (occasionally white) flowers with five petals, and a musky fragrance. It has deeply lobed, hairy leaves and hairy stems. It can grow to heights of 1m, although dwarf cultivars are available.
Advice on buying musk mallow
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- Musk mallow is available from garden centres but you’re most likely to find the white-flowered variety ‘Snow White’. For the native wildflower, try wildflower stockists
- Ensure you have the right growing conditions for musk mallow – dry soils and full sun are perfect
- Always check plants for signs of disease or damage before planting
Where to buy musk mallow
How to grow Malva moschata
-
Plant size
100cm height
30cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, east facing, west facing
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, full sun
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does not flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
Malva moschata and wildlife
Malva moschata is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects, butterflies/moths and other pollinators. It is a caterpillar food plant and has nectar/pollen rich flowers.
Attractive to Bees
Attractive to Beneficial insects
Does not attract Birds
Attractive to Butterflies/Moths
Attractive to Other pollinators
Is Malva moschata poisonous?
Malva moschata has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
