Marshmallow Plant: Uses of the Marshmallow Plant

The marshmallow plant (Althaea officinalis) is a perennial flowering plant that grows between four and six feet tall with white flowers or pale pink flowers. The ornamental plant is native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. The marshmallow plant is in the mallow family of plants (Malvaceae), which also includes cotton, hibiscus, hollyhock, and okra. Its sap contains high amounts of plant mucilage, which is a thick and sticky substance.

Take care not to confuse the marshmallow plant with the common mallow plant (Malva sylvestris). The common mallow also belongs to the mallow plant family, but it is a different species than the marshmallow plant.

All parts of the marshmallow plant are edible, including the marshmallow root and flowers. The ancient Egyptians utilized every part of the plant, which grows wild in North Africa, for medicinal uses. They used the sap to treat sore throats, coughs, and colds.

Individuals in Middle Eastern regions were among the first in history to use the plant’s mucilage as a sweetener syrup and combined the sap with nuts and grains for a sweet confection (sometimes known as halva, depending on the locale). In the nineteenth century, the French whipped the sap into a sweet candy called marshmallows. Today, candy makers use gelatin, corn syrup, and cornstarch to make marshmallow candy without the incorporation of marshmallow plant sap.

Marshmallow plants are low-maintenance and often reseed themselves year over year. The plant is hardy but it prefers mild winters. The marshmallow plant can be beneficial in a garden, as it attracts pollinators, encouraging the other plants in your flower bed or herb garden to proliferate. Here are some additional factors to keep in mind when caring for marshmallow plants:

• Climate: Marshmallow plants are extremely hardy, capable of withstanding a wide range of temperatures, although you will see the best results if you plant marshmallow seedlings in USDA Hardiness Zones 3–7.
• Light: Allow the marshmallow plant to enjoy full sun for optimum growth. The marshmallow plant will also grow in partial shade as long as the area receives at least four hours of sunlight.
• Soil: Test your soil or buy a potting mix that’s the right soil type—marshmallow plants prefer a marshy, damp, acidic soil.
• Water: For appropriately moist soil, water it consistently but don’t let the plant sit in standing water. Mulch the soil to help prevent water evaporation, or you can add peat moss to modify a drier soil and help with moisture retention.

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