Malva flower description, views, photos, cultivation and landing

Longyearold Malva is especially popular among gardeners. This demand is explained by its spectacular appearance, useful properties and simple care. It is interesting to note that the inhabitants of Asia from mallow leaves are preparing salads and first dishes.

During the flowering period, beautiful, large flowers appear on Malva, filling the garden with an incredible, slightly sweet aroma. Often this plant is used to decorate the fence, household buildings or simply grown on flower beds. Malva is worthy to take a place on your land plot. However, before its landing, it will be useful to learn about the features of this process, the existing species of the plant and its healing properties.

Description

This plant is grassy and belongs to the Hibiscus family. You can meet it in various regions of the globe. The exception is cold natural zones with a harsh climate.  Malva loves warmth, so there are quite a lot of her in the tropics.

The main feature of the plant is its large flowers. They can be of any color (depending on the variety). In the case of many years of mallow, flowers are most often white or pink. However, they can also be yellow, red, purple. After the flowers bloom, they turn into fruits, which are a ring. It combines many separate lobules that are divided during the maturation process.

Appearance

Malva belongs to the category of tall and straightgrowing plants. Its height is 60-250 cm. The leaves have a rounded shape. There are recesses along the edges. From below the leaves are much larger than at the top. All of them have a small hairline and veins resembling veins.

The root system is a direct rod root. The secondary root system is rough and highly branched. Young plants are formed in the form of basal outlets. The first two sheets are smooth and in shape resemble the heart.

The shape of the flowers themselves resembles a funnel. The buds are combined into inflorescences that are located at the top. Flowers can be either ordinary and terry and semidouble. Their diameter is from 6 to 20 centimeters. Malva begins to bloom in June and until September.

Kinds

Malva is one of the most common flowers around the world with a rich history. It has been engaged in its cultivation for more than 1000 years. During this time, several types of mallow appeared:

1. Muscular is a stunted perennial. Its height rarely when exceeds 60 cm. The flowers have a light shade and an incredible aroma. Their maximum diameter 5 cm.
2. Sudanskaya is considered both a treelike plant and a shrub. Can grow up to 3 meters in height. The diameter of the flowers reaches 10 cm. Fruits can be used to prepare healthy decoctions and tinctures for health.
3. Wrinkled-there are 2 types: dwarf and tall. Very often used to decorate the site. Blooming wrinkled mallow will transform it favorably, giving it originality and bright colors. In height can reach 2 m.
4. Hybrid is one of the highest species. In height may exceed 2 m. Budons are mainly white or pink.
5. Forest a highlight of this species lies in colors. Budons have black veins. The diameter of the flowers themselves is 7 cm.

Each species has several varieties. The most popular are “white perfection” (musky), “double strip of chamber” (wrinkled), “Powder puffs” (hybrid), “black mother of pearl” (forest).

Growing and care

Malva is a rather unpretentious plant. When growing it, it is enough to observe a few simple rules. In this case, the plant will grow strong and healthy, as a result of which it will delight you with bright, beautiful and aromatic flowers throughout the summer.

This culture can be planted both immediately in open ground and grown with seedlings. In the second case, it will bloom faster. For comparison, it should be noted that the seeds sown in open ground will begin to bloom after a year. The vegetation period of seedlings is only 3 months. That is, in the summer, the plant will delight you with beautiful flowers.

At home, it is preferable to sow mallow into an individual container. This will further avoid diving. April is considered the best time for planting seeds. The soil should be waterproof, loose and welltransmitting oxygen. Before planting, the soil should be slightly moistened. Cerens put on top, slightly sprinkling them with the soil. Seedlings should be put in warm (+22 degrees), a welllit place. The container with it should be covered. As soon as the first seedlings appear, shelter is removed from it.

Water seedlings rarely. This should be done when the top soil layer dry out. If a crust appears on it, then it must be loosened. If this is not done, then the root system will not receive air, as a result of which seedlings may die.

Planting and care

The choice of soil and soil deserves special attention. It is preferable to choose welllit areas. However, mallow will grow in the shade, but the deficiency of sunlight will affect flowering. Because of this, you will not be able to fully evaluate all the attractiveness of the plant. Also, when choosing a site, it is recommended to give preference to places where the plant will be protected from the wind. Keep in mind that his strong impulses can break stems.

Beginning gardeners most often choose this plant due to simple care. It is enough to perform a simple set of procedures, which includes loosening, watering, garter, and top dressing.

You can plant mallow in any soil: clay, sandy, loam, with high acidity, chernozem, and t.D. Many varieties prefer wet soils. Initially, mallow grew mainly in marshy ground. Despite this, it quickly adapts and grows well in standard conditions of a summer cottage.

Planting mallow should be in shallow pits-2-3 cm. the distance with the sprouts should be 30 cm. Water the plant should be as necessary the soil should always be moist, but at the same time you must not allow swamping.

This culture does not require constant top dressing. For active growth, it is enough for the sun and moderate watering. It will be quite enough to distribute fresh compost or a small amount of organic fertilizers once a year.

The plant must be regularly checked for pests. With excessive watering, the plant will be subject to aphid attacks, Japanese beetles and whiteflies. Treat mallow with soap solution or garden oil.

Beneficial features

Malva has long been used in folk medicine. Various drugs are made from it for both internal and external use. This plant is a storehouse of vitamins of group A and C. Its composition also contains carotene, iron, zinc, and mucus with unique healing properties. The seeds themselves contain 17% fat oils.

In folk medicine, mallow is used for:

Malva is suitable for the treatment of not only adults, but also children. With its help, you can strengthen the child’s immunity, get rid of skin rashes, and cure a cold. It is important to consider that culture refers to medicinal plants, so with its use should be extremely careful. Before admission, it will not be superfluous to consult a pediatrician.

Is it possible for pregnant women

Malva is able to soften toxicosis and eliminate external defects. It should only be introduced into the diet with 2 trimester, since at the very beginning of pregnancy doctors do not recommend the use of medicinal herbs. You can take mallow in the form of tea, decoction or tincture. The use of the plant in the presence of problems with the intestines and the bladder is especially recommended. It effectively and safely eliminates edema, which is especially important for most pregnant women.

In addition to medicine, mallow is also used in cosmetology. It prevents baldness, solves the aesthetic problems of the skin, and also moisturizes it.