Care for Malva Plants

Malva flowers come in a variety of colors.

Malva plants, commonly referred to as mallow, are hardy perennials commonly grown in mild, temperate zones. Closely related to hollyhocks, malva thrive in rich soil, producing large, edible blooms throughout the summer and early fall. Malva bushes often grow wild in pastures and fields, attracting bees and butterflies with their colorful, fragrant blooms. With proper care, your malva plants will grow strong and hearty for many seasons.

Things You'll Need

• Hose
• Rake
• Fertilizer
• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Give your malva plants as many hours of daily sunlight as possible. Malva plants grow quickest and produce the most flowers when in full sun, so plant them in areas free of trees and nearby structures. Pull tall weeds and trim back vines and adjacent bushes to maximize sun exposure.

2. Water each malva bush every seven days. Turn the hose on slowly, and let the water run until the soil is damp to a depth of one inch. Move the hose every few minutes to evenly distribute the moisture around the bush. If the weather is rainy, check the soil for moisture before watering.

3. Rake around the bushes every two weeks to loosen the soil. Loose soil allows more water and nutrients to soak to the roots, resulting in healthier, stronger plants.

4. Fertilize malva bushes to promote healthy growth. Annuals such as malva can be fertilized with either a quick release, water-soluble fertilizer or a time-release fertilizer, so pick the type that best suits your gardening style. Read the fertilizer instructions carefully and apply accordingly.

5. Examine malva plants weekly for signs of disease. Lift leaves gently to check for rust fungus. This invasive growth appears as tiny orange spots on the bottom of the leaves that burst and stick to your fingers when touched. Leaf fungi is also common in malva, and will look like soft brown or black spots on affected leaves and flowers. Snip away diseases foliage to prevent further infection.

Tips & Warnings

• Contain pets during fertilization. Some fertilizers include chemicals which may sicken your animals.

• Water only the soil around the malva bushes and never the stems or leaves. Wetness promotes fungus growth.

References

• United States Department of Agriculture: Malva Neglecta Wallr
• Backyard Gardener: Malva Sylvestris
• Heritage Perennials: Malva Sylvestris ‘Zebrina’