Mallow flower has a lot of names: mallow, stock rose, Kalachik. It is impossible not to notice it among other plants because of high growth and bright multi-colored flowers. In recent years, mallow, planting and caring for which are completely uncomplicated, has regained its popularity among gardeners and florists.
Description and flowers
Mallow (Latin: Málva or mallow belongs to the herbaceous perennials of the family Malvaceae, which also includes stem roses (Latin Alcea), very similar to them and also called “mallow.” Both plants are relatives: conditions, planting and care for mallow and stock roses is almost the same.
Mallow (mallow) is widespread and grows well in various climatic zones of Europe, Asia, North Africa, America. Such tall plants decorated with bright flowers can be found in forests, glades, along the road and in rural front gardens.
The plant is usually two or perennial, having a long stem up to 2.5 m tall. Leaves are round-heart-shaped, petiolate, having 5-7 lobes. As you can see in the photo, mallow flowers, planting and care for which are very simple, are located 1-5 in leaf axils. Their petals are oblong with a deep notch and three longitudinal stripes. Flowering time lasts from June to August, and in some species - September.
The roots have long, widely branched roots. Fruits are boxes that, when ripe, break up into multi-seeded nests.
Types of Mallows
In nature, mallow refers to plants that spread by self-seeding, so it can often be seen in the forest or in the clearing. Among gardeners, it is popular due to its unpretentiousness in care.
Mallows are grown one-, two- and perennial, many species have differences in cold resistance, color of flowers and plant height:
- forest mallow (mallow) (lat. Malva sylvestris) - 2-year-old plant up to 1.2 m high, decorated with beautiful bright pink or white 5-7-lobed flowers with a diameter of 3-4 cm; Moravia has scarlet streaks, Primley Blue is represented by creeping shoots and bright petals, Zebrina is decorated with scarlet stripes on a pink background;
- musky - the plant is distinguished by its pungent smell of musk, winter-hardy (withstands up to -35º), bush height 0.8-1 m, flowers are snow-white or light pink with a diameter of up to 5 cm, undersized variety White perfection, Innosens and Pink Princess are also popular, which have a delicate color of flowers;
- the Moorish appearance has tall bare stems (up to 1.5 m), which are strewn with many flowers, however, due to the inability to cold, the plant often dies and requires special planting and care (photo Mallow Mauritiana - below);
- hybrid varieties of mallow are represented by the magnificence and variety of shades and colors (from white to scarlet), perennial plants, terry inflorescences, but can withstand cooling only to -15 ° C; Popular varieties of Powder Puffs, Gibbortello and Chaters Double;
- rose stem or wrinkled mallow (Alcea rugosa) - perennial with bright yellow flowers up to 10 cm in size, height - 0.8-1.2 m, wonderful honey plant;
- The pink rose stem comes from the Balkan Peninsula, the Caucasus, it is grown in the southern regions as a perennial plant 1.5-2.5 m tall, large leaves with rough hairs, bell flowers with a diameter of up to 12 cm, white, pink and dark red colors.
In recent years, breeders have bred many interesting varieties and hybrids of mallow.
Mallow flower: planting and care
When choosing a place for planting mallow, it must be borne in mind that the plant has a powerful root system, so it is better not to transplant it. She prefers an illuminated sunny area, loose and nutritious soil, with drainage and enriched with humus.
When growing a perennial flower, you need to choose places where there is no stagnation of moisture (for example, in the spring from melted snow), because this can cause root rot. Light loamy soils are most suitable for it.
It should be noted that mallow, planting and care of which does not cause problems for gardeners, does not tolerate strong winds and drafts that can break its long stem. Often these flowers are planted along the fence, so that if necessary, tall stems could be tied.
In landscape compositions, it can be planted both in groups and in rows, observing an interval of at least 50 cm.
Plant care is simple:
- periodic loosening of the soil for air access to the roots is done shallow and with caution;
- removal of wilted flowers - to improve the attractiveness of plantings.
Watering and feeding
Mallow is perennial, planting and care of which is practically minimal, refers to drought-resistant plants. In the summer months it will be enough for her to do watering on a weekly basis, and in the dry period it is recommended to do this more often, then just watch so that there is no stagnation of water in the soil.
If the plant is planted in fertile soil, then it is not necessary to feed it, and in poor soil it is necessary to apply fertilizers with an increased nitrogen content. It is especially important to introduce complex top dressing several days before flowering, and then every 2-3 weeks - fertilize with phosphorus and potassium in a small concentration.
If the mallow is perennial, the planting and care in the open ground for it require additional annual feeding with compost and humus, the amount of which is calculated from the ratio of 3 kg of fertilizer per 1 sq. M. m
In the autumn months, after the end of the flowering of the mallow, it must be cut to ground level. In the northern regions of Russia, she is first fed, then sheltered for the winter with dry foliage, straw or lapnik, in the southern regions this is not required.
Diseases and Pests
Mallows, when planted and maintained correctly, rarely get sick, the only exception may be the appearance of rust on adult bushes with excessive soil moisture. This becomes noticeable in the form of spots on the underside of the leaves, which affects the attractiveness of the plant. To save it, it is better to cut off diseased leaves and make the treatment any fungicide.
Also, mallow can be affected by powdery mildew, spotting, mosaic virus and stem cancer. For the treatment of diseased plants, it is recommended to use the preparations "Mikosan-B", "Trichodermin" and Fito-Doctor "or other antifungal agents.
Of the pests, the plant can be affected by slugs, which you have to fight with the help of arranging baits (saucers with beer) or collect them manually. Occasionally, aphids appear on the mallow, due to which the leaves begin to turn yellow to become covered with a sweet pad. To remove the pest, a soap solution or insecticidal preparations are used: Decis, Iskra, Antitlin.
Reproduction and seed production
Mallow, planting and care in the open field for which were done correctly, blooms very abundantly and colorful. Withered flowers must be removed immediately to stimulate the formation and growth of new ones. To obtain seeds, several large specimens are left, which will then be given in boxes. Quite often they open themselves, and the seeds are sown independently. To prevent this from happening, they are collected a little earlier and put on ripening.
Sowing seeds is carried out in a greenhouse or a small nursery in late spring and early summer. After the appearance of 2-3 leaves, the seedlings dive with a distance of 25 cm. Only at the beginning of autumn can young plants be planted in a permanent place with a distance of 0.5 m.
Medicinal properties of mallow
The medicinal properties of various types of mallow are widely used, the planting and care of which are described in the review. For the preparation of decoctions and infusions, leaves, roots and flowers containing useful mucous substances, carotene and ascorbic acid are used.
The healing properties of malva plants:
- mallow decoction treats respiratory diseases and inflammatory processes in the intestines, stomach and pancreas, relieves pain in acute renal colic;
- stem-rose flowers and roots are also used in folk medicine: due to their anti-inflammatory, enveloping, emollient and expectorant properties, decoctions and teas are prepared from them for the treatment of bronchitis, flu and tonsillitis, the roots are used in the treatment of gastrointestinal tract diseases, bloating.
Interesting Facts
Mallow or mallow with its colorful and flowering many times attracted the attention of artists and poets.
The following facts indicate the origin and popularity of the flower:
- the plant came to Europe from Central Asia in the 15th century, but its origin is even more ancient: according to scientists, such a flower was popular in ancient Greece and Egypt, where they were successfully grown;
- the Ukrainian name of the mallow is “kalachik”, given to her for the similarity of the shape of the fruit with baked kalach;
- in Japan, in one of the churches in Kyoto, for several centuries, every spring, the Aoi Matsuri festival, or the Malva Festival, which many tourists want to get to admire the bright and colorful garlands of flowers, has been held for several centuries.