Malva excisa
Family: Malvaceae
What it is like
Malva excisa is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 1.2
Where it is found
Gardens, vineyards and waste places.
Europe.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 4
Leaves - raw or cooked. A mild pleasant flavour. Mucilaginous and fairly bland, it makes a good lettuce substitute in salads. Flowers - raw. A very decorative addition to the salad bowl, they have a mild flavour and a similar texture to the leaves. Seed - raw. Best used before it is fully mature, the seed has a pleasant nutty taste but it is rather small and fiddly to harvest.
Oil: Oil
Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
Medicine
Rating: 1
The leaves are demulcent. They are also used as a mouthwash for inflammatory and catarrhal conditions.
Demulcent: Soothes, lubricates and softens irritated tissues, especially the mucous membranes.
Mouthwash: Treats problems such as mouth ulcers.
Other
Rating: 2
A fibre obtained from the stem is used for making cordage. Cream, yellow and green dyes can be obtained from the plant and the seed heads. The seed yields 15% oil, the uses have not been given though it is almost certainly edible.
Dye: Plants that provide dyes.
Fibre: Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.
Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.
How it is grown
A very easily grown plant, succeeding in ordinary garden soil, though it prefers a reasonably well-drained and moderately fertile soil in a sunny position. A very ornamental plant. This species is closely related to M. alcea and considered no more than an extreme form of that species by some botanists. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits. Prone to infestation by rust fungus.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown in early spring in a cold frame. The seed germinates quickly and easily. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in their permanent positions in the early summer. If you have sufficient seed then it can be sown outdoors in situ in the middle to late spring. Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 4-8
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
Although we have seen no reports of toxicity for this species, when grown on nitrogen rich soils (and particularly when these are cultivated inorganically), the leaves of some species tend to concentrate high levels of nitrates in their leaves. The leaves are perfectly wholesome at all other times.