Family: Malvaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 689 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Malva
Vegetable: False
Observations: Macaronesia, Europe to C. Asia and W. Himalaya
Description
Blue mallow, known scientifically as Malva sylvestris, is a captivating plant with a rich history and widespread presence. This plant holds significant value both in its natural habitats and in gardens around the world. Originally categorized in 1753 under the authoritative work by Linnaeus, Blue mallow has been a subject of botanical interest for centuries.
Malva sylvestris thrives in diverse regions, from the volcanic archipelagos of Macaronesia, stretching across the temperate zones of Europe, extending into Central Asia, and reaching the western parts of the Himalayas. This vast geographical range illustrates the plant’s adaptability and resilience, enabling it to flourish in various climates and soils.
Belonging to the Malvaceae family, Blue mallow is characterized by its striking purple-blue flowers, which bloom generously, providing a vibrant splash of color that can liven up any landscape. The flowers not only serve an aesthetic purpose but also attract a multitude of pollinators, including bees and butterflies, making it an excellent addition to eco-friendly and biodiversity-conscious gardens.
Historically, Blue mallow has been valued not just for its beauty but also for its medicinal properties. Traditional practices often utilized parts of the plant to treat various ailments, capitalizing on its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. Today, it continues to be cherished in naturopathy and herbal medicine.
Overall, Malva sylvestris is a plant that embodies both natural beauty and practicality. Its broad distribution and historical significance underscore its enduring appeal and the important role it plays in ecosystems across its range. Whether valued for its ornamental charm or its herbal benefits, Blue mallow remains a beloved and indispensable member of the plant world.
Common Names
Dan: almindelig katost
Eng: blue mallow, cheeses, common mallow, forest mallow, garden mallow, high mallow, tall mallow, high cheeseweed, purple mallow
Spa: malvilla
Fra: mauve des bois, mauve sauvage, mauve-verte, grande mauve
Deu: wilde malve
Nld: groot kaasjeskruid
Por: malva, malva-alta, malva-das-boticas, malva-das-hortas, malva-de-banho, malva-de-botica, malva-de-casa, malva-grande, malva-maior, malva-rosa, malva-selvagem, malva-silvestre, malva-verde, malva-vulgar, rosa-chinesa, rosa-marinha
Swe: rödmalva
Nob: legekattost
Nno: legekattost, lækjekattost
Cym: glyf gyffredin, hocys, hocys cyffredin, hocysen, hocysen gyffredin, meddalon, meddalon gyffredin, melotai, melotai gyffredin, rhocos, rhwygo yn llaprau, rhwygo yn llarpiau
En: Blue mallow, Cheeses, Common mallow, Forest mallow, High mallow, Tall mallow, Marsh mallow, Mallards, Garden Mallow, High cheeseweed, Purple mallow, Cheese-flower, Mallow, Zebrina Mallow
Ar: خبازى (خُبازى)، خبيزه (خُبيزه), رقمه (رَقْمه)، رقميه (رَقميه), الخبازة البرية, الخبازه البريه, خبازة برية
Az: Meşəlik əməköməcisi
Eu: Malba arrunt
Bg: Горски слез
Ca: Malva de camp, Malva major, Malva silvestre
Zh: 歐錦葵
Kw: Malow
Co: Malba, Malma, Nalba, Nalva
Hr: Crni sljez
Cs: Sléz lesní
Da: Almindelig Katost, Alm. katost, Malva silvestris
Nl: Groot kaasjeskruid
Et: Mets-kassinaeris
Fi: Kiiltomalva, Metsämalva
Fr: Mauve des bois, Grande mauve, Mauve sauvage, Mauve sylvestre, Mauve-verte, Petit-fromage
De: Wilde Malve, Mauretanische Malve
El: Μάλβα η άγρια, Μολόχα
He: חלמית גדולה
Hu: Erdei mályva
Is: Skógarmalva
Ga: Hocas
It: Malva selvatica, Nalba, Riandell, Malva
Ja: Zeni-aoi, Usubeni-aoi
Kk: Орман құлқайыры
Ko: Dangaug
Ku: Tolik, Tolk
Lt: Miškinė dedešva, Miško dedešva
Mk: Црн слез
No: Apotekerkattost
Nb: Legekattost
Nn: Legekattost, Lækjekattost
Fa: پنیرک صحرایی, پنیرک قرمز
Pl: Ślaz dziki
Pt: Malva-comum, Malva, Malva-alta, Malva-das-boticas, Malva-das-hortas, Malva-de-banho, Malva-de-botica, Malva-de-casa, Malva-grande, Malva-maior, Malva-rosa, Malva-selvagem, Malva-silvestre, Malva-verde, Malva-vulgar, Rosa-chinesa, Rosa-marinha
Ru: Mal’va lesnaja, Prosvirnik lesnoj, Мальва лесная, Просвирник лесной
Gd: Lus nam Meall Mòra
Sr: Слез црни, Црни сљез, Црни слез
Sk: Slez lesný
Es: Malva Común, Malva silvestre, Gozdni slezenovec, Slezenovec, Alboeza, Botonera, Botones, Chicha y pan, Flor de malva, Galletas, Granetes, Hogacinas, Hogacita quesera, Hogacita, Malmá, Malva alta, Malva dulce, Malva lisa, Malva loca, Malva mayor, Malva medicinal, Malva silvestre más alta y mayor, Malva vulgar, Malva yedra, Malva-yedra, Malvas, Malvavisco, Malvera, Malvilla, Marva, Marvas, Matutinas, Mollete, Pan de malva, Pan y quesito, Pan y quesitos, Panecico, Panecicos, Panecillo de Dios, Panecillo de la Virgen, Panecillo, Panecillos de malva, Panecillos, Panecitos, Panes, Panete, Panetes, Panillo, Pericón, Probayernos, Quesico, Quesicos, Quesilla, Quesitos, Rosquillas, Tortillas, Črni klobuk, Malva
Sv: Rödmalva
Zh-tw: 錦葵
Tr: Büyük ebegümeci
Uk: Malva grossheimii, Зензівер, Калачики лісові, Мальва лісова
Cy: Hocysen hocys, Glyf Gyffredin, Hocys, Hocys Cyffredin, Hocysen, Hocysen Gyffredin, Meddalon, Meddalon Gyffredin, Melotai, Melotai Gyffredin, Rhocos, Rhwygo Yn Llaprau, Rhwygo Yn Llarpiau
Synonyms
- Malva ambigua var. microphylla (Rouy)
Distribution
- Afghanistan (native)
- Albania (native)
- Algeria (native)
- Altay (native)
- Austria (native)
- Azores (native)
- Baleares (native)
- Baltic States (native)
- Belarus (native)
- Belgium (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Central European Rus (native)
- Corse (native)
- Cyprus (native)
- Czechoslovakia (native)
- Denmark (native)
- East Aegean Is. (native)
- East European Russia (native)
- Egypt (native)
- Finland (native)
- France (native)
- Germany (native)
- Greece (native)
- Hungary (native)
- Iran (native)
- Iraq (native)
- Italy (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Kriti (native)
- Krym (native)
- Lebanon-Syria (native)
- Libya (native)
- Madeira (native)
- Morocco (native)
- Netherlands (native)
- North Caucasus (native)
- North European Russi (native)
- Northwest European R (native)
- Norway (native)
- Palestine (native)
- Poland (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Romania (native)
- Sardegna (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- Sinai (native)
- South European Russi (native)
- Spain (native)
- Sweden (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Tibet (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Tunisia (native)
- Turkey (native)
- Turkey-in-Europe (native)
- Turkmenistan (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- Uzbekistan (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Alabama (introduced)
- Alberta (introduced)
- Amsterdam-St.Paul Is (introduced)
- Amur (introduced)
- Angola (introduced)
- Argentina Northeast (introduced)
- Argentina Northwest (introduced)
- Argentina South (introduced)
- Assam (introduced)
- Bangladesh (introduced)
- Brazil South (introduced)
- British Columbia (introduced)
- California (introduced)
- Canary Is. (introduced)
- Cape Provinces (introduced)
- Chile Central (introduced)
- Chile North (introduced)
- Chita (introduced)
- Colorado (introduced)
- Connecticut (introduced)
- Delaware (introduced)
- District of Columbia (introduced)
- Dominican Republic (introduced)
- Ecuador (introduced)
- Eritrea (introduced)
- Great Britain (introduced)
- Guatemala (introduced)
- Honduras (introduced)
- Idaho (introduced)
- Illinois (introduced)
- Indiana (introduced)
- Iowa (introduced)
- Ireland (introduced)
- Irkutsk (introduced)
- Japan (introduced)
- Kansas (introduced)
- Kentucky (introduced)
- Korea (introduced)
- Louisiana (introduced)
- Maine (introduced)
- Manitoba (introduced)
- Maryland (introduced)
- Masachusettes (introduced)
- Mexico Northwest (introduced)
- Mexico Southwest (introduced)
- Michigan (introduced)
- Minnesota (introduced)
- Missouri (introduced)
- Montana (introduced)
- Nebraska (introduced)
- Nepal (introduced)
- New Brunswick (introduced)
- New Hampshire (introduced)
- New Jersey (introduced)
- New Mexico (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- New Zealand North (introduced)
- North Carolina (introduced)
- North Dakota (introduced)
- Nova Scotia (introduced)
- Ohio (introduced)
- Ontario (introduced)
- Oregon (introduced)
- Pakistan (introduced)
- Pennsylvania (introduced)
- Peru (introduced)
- Primorye (introduced)
- Québec (introduced)
- Rhode I. (introduced)
- Réunion (introduced)
- Sakhalin (introduced)
- Saskatchewan (introduced)
- South Carolina (introduced)
- South Dakota (introduced)
- Tasmania (introduced)
- Tennessee (introduced)
- Texas (introduced)
- Uruguay (introduced)
- Utah (introduced)
- Venezuela (introduced)
- Vermont (introduced)
- Vietnam (introduced)
- Virginia (introduced)
- Washington (introduced)
- West Siberia (introduced)
- West Virginia (introduced)
- Wisconsin (introduced)
- Wyoming (introduced)
- Zimbabwe (introduced)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken May 11, 2017 by Geneviève Perello (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 12, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 27, 2021 by Gianni Del Bufalo (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 27, 2021 by Gianni Del Bufalo (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 11, 2017 by Geneviève Perello (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken May 24, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 22, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 15, 2017 by Paty Tuba (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 22, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 27, 2021 by Gianni Del Bufalo (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Jul 18, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 22, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 15, 2019 by gianni del bufalo (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 3, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 24, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Aug 15, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 4, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 29, 2019 by Stephane Plichon (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 3, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 13, 2021 by Gianni Del Bufalo (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Aug 26, 2022 by astrobio . exe (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 15, 2020 by Steffen (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 22, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 16, 2022 by Nathalie Potel (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 25, 2018 by Michel Cosme (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Jun 27, 2021 by Radu Nicolau (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 6, 2022 by Gaël GOUJON (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 27, 2020 by Giode Tonpino (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 3, 2022 by Marie-Claude Deboin (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 17, 2020 by Jean-René Girardeau (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:561932-1)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3152374)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Malva sylvestris L.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.5
Ph minimum: 7.0
Light: 8
Atmospheric humidity: 5
Soil nutriments: 8