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posieh_gw

Can anyone idtntify this plant? Please.

posieh
11 years ago

This plant just appeared in my garden a couple years ago. It gets over six feet tall and leaves sorta resemble a hollyhock but are ruffled. It has a small cluster of tiny pink flowers tight to the stem. An attractive annual that does self seed but not a pest.

Comments (21)

  • saltcedar
    11 years ago

    Malva verticillata crispa?

    Here is a link that might be useful: Malva verticillata crispa

  • ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
    11 years ago

    otherwise known as an invasive weed in north america ... per the link ...

    i bought mine from a reputable botanical garden ... killed 20 million the second year.. 8 years back or so.. AND I STILL HAVE SEEDLINGS POPPING UP...

    whats that all about ...

    ken

    Here is a link that might be useful: link

  • saltcedar
    11 years ago

    ken,
    Since you seem to be up on Boreal weeds I'd like your input on
    using this as a winter vegetable in Texas. Nights here hover in
    the mid to low 20's F. in late Dec. thru. the first week of Feb.
    Can this Malva handle that?

  • Leafhead
    11 years ago

    Probably overwinter as seeds.

  • saltcedar
    11 years ago

    No, here in the South you germinate your Winter veggies
    in October/November in hopes of a late Winter or Spring
    harvest. Onions/Brassicas/lettuce/beets ect thrive this way.
    They'd be dead by May if sown in Spring for a Summer harvest.
    4 months at 100 degrees kills almost anything not native.

    Here is a link that might be useful: This is how most new gardeners feel in Austin, it gets better

    This post was edited by saltcedar on Thu, Mar 21, 13 at 12:02

  • saltcedar
    11 years ago

    Flora_UK?
    Do you have any thoughts on overwintering this plant?

  • flora_uk
    11 years ago

    Sorry, Salt. I have no knowledge of this plant and can't find many UK references to it. I've linked to the best I found.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Malva verticillata

  • saltcedar
    11 years ago

    Thanks Flora,
    I'm getting mixed messages. Some say frost hardy, in fact biennial
    others say not frost hardy then go on to say it's a Winter vegetable
    in parts of Asia!?

  • fatamorgana2121
    11 years ago

    I've never tried this one but the first link above listed zones 4-9 and the link Flora shared said zone 6. Doesn't matter if it is either zone 4 or 6, it means not only frost but sub-zero F temperatures. I'd try it and see how it fares.

    I think the trickier part is that the first link said annual or biennial. So it may not last very long either way.

    FataMorgana

  • saltcedar
    11 years ago

    My concern is will it tolerate freezing of the top growth
    as you might expect a cabbage to resist moderate freezing.
    As in low 30'sF to mid-20'sF with an occasional dip to near 20.

  • fatamorgana2121
    11 years ago

    I don't know. I've never seen any of the Malvas here make it through frosts without the top growth dying back....maybe M. neglecta does. Can't remember. But hardy ones like hollyhocks and marshmallows just sprout back up in the spring. I would just try it and see what happens. Many of the "hardy" Asian herbs and plants I've tried handle my Western NY State winters very well and you have much more mild conditions than I do.

    FataMorgana

  • saltcedar
    11 years ago

    FataMorgana,
    I appreciate your input. The window to grow this and other plants
    is VERY short. We've been 99F in February, so any plant that is
    to produce a crop has to be fully hardy and ready to harvest before
    mid April or it's literally toast!

  • fatamorgana2121
    11 years ago

    Glad to help. If you do try it, I wish you luck!

    FataMorgana

  • mike127
    11 years ago

    does it make small brown seedpods filled with tiny seeds

    if so it might be some kind of Moth-Mullen they make pretty flowers and reseed there self.

  • flora_uk
    11 years ago

    mike127 - it has been reliably identified already. The question now is on its suitability as a winter veg in Texas. Which none of us seems to be able to answer. I guess Salt just has to try it and let us know.

  • saltcedar
    11 years ago

    Guess I ought to follow up?

    Seed packet says: "Like cool and wet weather conditions,
    Avoid high temperatures, cold resistance,
    Low temperature can also enhance quality"

  • flora_uk
    11 years ago

    Well, Salt, that description makes it sound like the perfect UK plant. I wonder why we don't seem to grow it much?

  • flora_uk
    11 years ago

    Well, Salt, that description makes it sound like the perfect UK plant. I wonder why we don't seem to grow it much?

  • saltcedar
    11 years ago

    Probably too prolific? (weedy)

  • posieh
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    I think it is Malva verticillata, as someone identified. Thanks everyone.

  • mike127
    11 years ago

    yeah "flora_uk" i suppose your right. it still looks like a soft plant like the Moth-Mullen kind of just with wider leaves.