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Marsh Mallow Seeds
About...
Marsh Mallow (Althaea Officinalis) - It is native to Europe but can be found growing in many places around the world. It is easy to grow from Marsh Mallow seeds, and it also makes a lovely flowering display as well as having therapeutic benefits.
MORE HERB OPTIONS
Flower Specifications
SEASON
Perennial
USDA ZONES
3 - 9
HEIGHT
48 inches
BLOOM SEASON
Mid summer to early fall
BLOOM COLOR
White
ENVIRONMENT
Full sun to partial shade
SOIL TYPE
Prefers sandy, moist soil
DEER RESISTANT
Yes
LATIN NAME
Althaea Officinalis
Marsh Mallow (Althaea Officinalis) - Every herb garden needs to have this versatile perennial! It is highly regarded as a beneficial medicinal herb and has been widely used for the last 2000 years in both foods and in medicines. It is native to Europe but can be found growing in many places around the world. It is easy to grow from Marsh Mallow seeds, and it also makes a lovely flowering display as well as having therapeutic benefits.
Both the roots and the leaves have a slimy substance called mucilage. When the mucilage is mixed with water, it creates a viscous gel that coats and sooths irritated mucous membranes. It is used for coughs, colds, sore throats, stomach and intestinal conditions. It is also very beneficial when applied to skin abrasions or insect bites. The Marshmallow root is yellow-white and sweet. It is similar in taste to a parsnip. The roots can be harvested in the fall for drying.
Plant history
The history of our modern day sugary marshmallow goes back to this herb plant. The gummy substance, mucilage, was actually the thickening ingredient in a dessert made from egg whites.
Herb seed | marsh mallow
How to grow
How To Grow Marsh Mallow From Seed: Marshmallow herb plants prefer moist soils. Some gardeners recommend a fall planting so that the cold temperatures aid in the germination of the Marshmallow herb seeds.
If starting the Marshmallow seeds indoors, place the herb seeds in moistened peat moss, and place the peat moss/seed mixture in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 weeks. After that cold treatment, sow the herb seeds in small pots. Once established, the Marsh Mallow plant is known to self-seed but not in an aggressive way.
- Sowing Rate: 5 - 6 seeds per plant
- Average Germ Time: Irregular, often over several months
- Keep moist until germination
- Attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds
- Depth: Sow seeds just below the soil surface
Plant Specifications
It is a branching plant that reaches 36 to 48 inches in height. The stems are slightly wooly and the leaves are soft and downy. The flowers reach 2 inches across, have 5 petals and range in color from white to reddish-white. Hummingbirds enjoy their sweet nectar.
- Height: 48 inches
- USDA Zones: 9 - 9
- Season: Perennial
Planting Directions
TEMPERATURE
Max 41F
AVERAGE GERM TIME
Germination irregular, often several months
LIGHT REQUIRED
No
DEPTH
Sow seeds just below the soil surface
SOWING RATE
5 - 6 seeds per plant
MOISTURE
Keep seeds moist until germination
PLANT SPACING
18 - 24 inches
Flower Specifications
SEASON
Perennial
USDA ZONES
5 - 8
HEIGHT
24 - 36 inches
BLOOM SEASON
Late spring through summer
BLOOM COLOR
Mix
ENVIRONMENT
Full sun
SOIL TYPE
Well-drained, pH 5.8 - 6.8
DEER RESISTANT
Yes
LATIN NAME
Verbascum Phoenicium
Verbascum (Verbascum Phoenicium Hybrids Mix) - This free flowering mix grown from Verbascum seeds will give your garden weeks of lovely colors. Commonly called Purple Mullein, this plant has dark green, crinkly leaves and beautiful spikes of papery-thin, round 5 - petaled blooms in shades of white, rose, and violet. The Purple Mullein plant starts blooming from the bottom of the spike and proceeds upward, opening one by one. Mullein flowers look lovely in a mixed border, and they can bloom from late spring up until the first frost. It is both deer and rabbit resistant, and butterflies love it! Verbascum flowers are excellent for cutting as well. Also considered to be a medicinal herb, the Mullein herb has diuretic, analgesic, expectorant, and antiseptic properties.
How To Grow Mullein From Seed: Plant Mullein seeds indoors 6 - 8 weeks before last frost date. Lightly press the Verbascum flower seeds into the soil, but do not cover with soil since the seeds need light to germinate. Keep constantly moist, not wet, and the herb seeds will germinate in 14 - 21 days. For outdoor sowing, wait until frost danger has passed, and sow Purple Mullein seeds directly into prepared seed bed. Spacing should be about 18 - 24 inches apart. Verbascum Mullein will bloom the first year if the flower seeds are sown early enough in the season. Flowers can be left on to self-seed or can be deadheaded to encourage more blooming.