The plant world holds many fascinating relationships. As I learn more about plants, I am amazed at the diversity of the mallows.
Mallows are all members of the order Mavales, which contains nine families and 3,000 species of plants, including cocoa, balsa, kapok and linden trees. The Mal-vaceae family of this order contains many familiar garden plants.Starting the list, because it is the most common, is common mallow. It is one of the most troublesome weeds in my garden. It goes by other names, including "cheezit weeds," but I am not endeared to it. It has a giant taproot and defies eradication without substantial digging. Herbicides cause the plants to curl and twist, but, after a brief period of time, they start growing again. Fortunately, I think more highly of other members of this family.
Another common and famous member of this family is the marshmallow. Although this plant does not grow in Utah, it is common in the eastern United States. Marshmallow roots were used to make a creamy confection. The marshmallows that you buy are pufflike imitations of the original treat and are named after the plant.
Hollyhock mallow is the common hollyhock that is an old standby in Utah gardens. They usually grow 3 to 4 feet high although some grow 8 feet or more. Flower color is variable, but pink is the most common. "Fastigia," a nursery selection, flowers throughout the summer into autumn. The musk mallow is even hardier. The plants grow 2 1/2 feet tall and rounded with finely cut leaves.
Checkboard or prairie mallow flowers look like small hollyhocks. They rise on tall stems from low clumps of rounded leaves. There are numerous named varieties including "Elsie Heugh," "Rose Queen," "Loveliness," "Sussex Beauty" and "Brilliant."
Many lavateras are tender evergreen shrubs, but annual lavatera grows 3 to 6 feet high from seeds sown in the spring. The flowers bloom in various shades of white, pink, rose and lavender from July through September if spent flowers are removed to prevent seed formation. Improved, compact varieties include "Mont Rose," "Mont Blanc" and "Silver Cup."
All of the aforementioned mallows are easy to grow, although they appreciate good, fertile, well-drained soil. While they grow in warm, dry areas, the flowers are more attractive and last longer in light shade.
Hollyhocks are troubled by a small beetle that routinely gives the foliage a lacelike appearance. Most common insecticides control the problem. They are usually disease free except for rust. This fungus causes large orange pustules on the back of the leaves. Fungicides are effective if applied before the disease becomes severe. Since the disease also affects mallow weeds, eradicating them reduces the problem. If the disease is severe, rotate them out of any susceptible mallows for at least a year.
This family also includes the hibiscus that produce large beautiful garden flowers. Perennial hibiscus, or rose mallow, is hardy in our area although the stems die back to the ground each year. Plants grow 4 to 6 feet tall and produce flowers that may reach 12 inches in diameter. Numerous named varieties include "Southern Belle," "Disco Belle," "Frisbee" and "Rio Carnival."
The Rose of Sharon, or shrub Althea, is a large deciduous shrub or small tree. It produces large, hollyhock-like flowers 2 to 3 inches across. The plants are hardy and tolerate some drought. There are numerous varieties that produce flowers ranging from white to pink to purple and violet. Newer selections have a longer bloom season, because they are sterile triploids, and produced few or no seed pods. They include "Aphrodite," which is rose-pink in color, "Diana," which is pure white, "Helene," which is white with a red center and "Minerva," which is a ruffled, lavender-pink. They are among the showiest of the summer flowering shrubs.
Another prominent mallow is okra. Although I can't say I fully appreciate this vegetable, it will flourish in your garden if you choose a short-season variety. Globe mallow is a beautiful orange desert wildflower that blooms in spring and midsummer in many areas of Utah. Interestingly enough, cotton is also a member of this family and economically the most significant.
Like everything else in life, one must take the good with the bad and experience the bitter with the sweet. From the disgusting mallow weeds that infest my garden to the beautiful dinner plate-size blossoms of the hibiscus, there is quite a range of these relatives. Just like people, each family has both good and less appreciated members. Choose some of the more appreciated mallows and you will enjoy their beauty for years to come.