Poppy Mallow, Purple poppymallow, Winecup, Finger Poppy Mallow
Callirhoe involucrata

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

Bloom Color: Purple. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late spring. Form: Spreading or horizontal.

Callirhoe involucrata is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 0.2

Where it is found

Grows in dry soils on the plains. Sandy, eroding dry ground and roadsides in Texas.

Central N. America - Minnesota and Iowa to Texas, Utah and New Mexico.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Europe, France, Mexico, North America, Tasmania, USA.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Root - cooked. The root is long and tapering, it is sweet and starchy with a pleasant taste somewhat like that of a sweet potato. Leaves - cooked. A pleasant flavour with a mucilaginous texture, they are good for thickening soups.

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Medicine

Rating: 2

A decoction of the root is used to treat internal pain. The root was also dried, then burnt and the smoke either inhaled or allowed to bathe the affected part of the body.

Anodyne: Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic.

Other

Rating: 0

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

Landscape Uses: Border, Ground cover, Rock garden. Prefers a light rich sandy loam and a sunny position. Likes a hot dry position, growing well on a dry sunny bank. This species is hardy to about -15°c. A deep-rooting plant, it strongly resents root disturbance and should be planted into its final position as soon as possible. Slugs are strongly attracted to this plant and can destroy even established plants by eating out all the young shoots in spring. Special Features: North American native, Naturalizing, Extended bloom season in Zones 9A and above. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 7 through 1. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread. The root pattern is a tap root similar to a carrot going directly down.

Propagating it: Seed - sow outdoors or in a cold frame. Plants resent root disturbance so the seed is best sown in situ in April, though the slugs will have a field day if you do not protect the plants. If seed is in short supply then sow it in pots in a cold frame, putting a few seeds in each pot, and plant the pots out in early summer once the plants have put on at least 15cm of growth. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 6 months at 15°c. Cuttings of young basal shoots in a frame in sand. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10cm long with plenty of underground stem. 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. Division. With care since the plant resents root disturbance. We have found that it is best not to disturb this plant and so do not try to divide it, relying instead on taking basal cuttings since these do not disturb the main clump.

Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 4-8

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

This plant can be weedy or invasive. Some evidence in Nebraska, USA.

Its other names

Local names

Low poppy mallow, Prairie poppy mallow, Purple poppy mallow, Wine cups.

Synonyms

C. lineariloba. Malva involucrata.