Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Malvaceae ⟩ Althaea officinalis / marsh mallow

Althaea officinalis L.

marsh mallow (Malvaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
RestrictedStrong tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Althaea officinalis is a grey-hairy perennial found at the upper edge of salt marshes and other coastal habitats, mostly in the south and east of England and Wales.

Minsmere (VC25: East Suffolk); 2019-07-12

 marsh mallow / Althaea officinalis: _Althaea officinalis_ is a grey-hairy perennial found at the upper edge of salt marshes and other coastal habitats, mostly in the south and east of England and Wales.

The flowers of Althaea officinalis are pale pink, and rest on an epicalyx of 6–10 segments.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2022-08-18

 marsh mallow / Althaea officinalis: The flowers of _Althaea officinalis_ are pale pink, and rest on an epicalyx of 6–10 segments.

The hairy nutlets of Althaea officinalis separate it from all our Malva species.

Stanpit (VC11: South Hampshire); 2018-09-06

 marsh mallow / Althaea officinalis: The hairy nutlets of _Althaea officinalis_ separate it from all our _Malva_ species.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne