• Photo of Malva arborea (Malva arboreas)

Plant Profile: Malva arborea

Taxonomy: Malva arborea

Names

Annual Mallow, Bush Mallow, Tree Mallow, Velvet Tree-mallow

  • Photo of Malva arborea (Malva arboreas)

Phonetic Spelling:MAL-vuh ar-bor-EE-ah

Genus:Malva

Species:arborea

Family:Malvaceae

Tree mallow can be cultivated as a biennial, annual, or, with adequate protection, as a perennial. This plant thrives in warmer regions, as it is susceptible to frost damage. It flourishes in sandy soils and can tolerate salty environments. Notably, it has the ability to excrete excess salt through leaf glands, making it well-suited for coastal planting.

When grown from seed, tree mallow can produce blooms within its first year, and its seeds can remain viable for several years.

However, it is important to note that the stems of the plant are prone to cracking easily, which can pose challenges in its care.

Malva arborea Feature Summary

Malva arborea Image Gallery

Tags

#annual
#biennial
#perennial
#cut flowers

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Malva arborea Feature Summary

Attributes
North Western Europe to Mediterranean
The blooms attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds and various insect pollinators. Serves as a food source for a variety of butterflies and moths. Bees are attracted to both the nectar and pollen.
The seeds may be edible.
Perennial
Woody
Annual
Biennial
Wildlife Food Source
Attracts Pollinators
Fruit
The seeds are contained in a round, flat capsule and remain viable for years.
Flowers
The 1-2" flowers are borne in clusters of two or more in the leaf axils. The attractive flowers have dark veins running into a dark center. They bloom in late winter through early summer.
Pink
Purple/Lavender
4-5 petals/rays
1-3 inches
Leaves
Each leaf may have between 5 and 9 lobes. They range in size from 3 to 7 ", spirally arranged around the stem.
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Palmatifid
> 6 inches
Velvety
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Shrub
Annual
Herb
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Mass Planting
Accent
Flowering Tree
Small Tree
Woodland
Naturalized Area
Slope/Bank
Coastal
Butterflies
Bees
Hummingbirds

Malva arborea Attributes

Malva arborea: Country Or Region Of Origin

North Western Europe to Mediterranean

Malva arborea: Wildlife Value

The blooms attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds and various insect pollinators. Serves as a food source for a variety of butterflies and moths. Bees are attracted to both the nectar and pollen.

Malva arborea: Edibility

The seeds may be edible.

Malva arborea: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Malva arborea: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Malva arborea: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Malva arborea Fruit

Malva arborea: Fruit Description

The seeds are contained in a round, flat capsule and remain viable for years.

Malva arborea: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Malva arborea Flowers

Malva arborea: Flower Description

The 1-2" flowers are borne in clusters of two or more in the leaf axils. The attractive flowers have dark veins running into a dark center. They bloom in late winter through early summer.

Malva arborea: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender

Malva arborea: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Malva arborea: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Malva arborea: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Malva arborea: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Malva arborea Leaves

Malva arborea: Leaf Description

Each leaf may have between 5 and 9 lobes. They range in size from 3 to 7 ", spirally arranged around the stem.

Malva arborea: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Malva arborea: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Malva arborea: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Malva arborea: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Malva arborea: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Malva arborea: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Malva arborea: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Malva arborea: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Malva arborea: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Malva arborea Whole Plant Traits

Malva arborea: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Malva arborea: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Malva arborea: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Malva arborea Cultural Conditions

Malva arborea: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Malva arborea: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Malva arborea: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Malva arborea: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Malva arborea: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Malva arborea: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Malva arborea Stem

Malva arborea: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Malva arborea Landscape

Malva arborea: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Malva arborea: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Malva arborea: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Malva arborea: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees