Changes

| common_names = Chinese Mallow

| common_names = Chinese Mallow

| growth_habit = herbaceous

| growth_habit = herbaceous

| high = 1.8m (? ft)

| high = 1.8m (? ft){{RHS}}

| wide =    <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->

| wide =    <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->

| origin = ?  <!--- Mexico, S America, S Europe, garden, etc -->

| origin = Europe, Asia{{RHS}}

| poisonous = see text

| poisonous = see text

| lifespan = Annual/Biennial

| lifespan = Annual, Biennial{{RHS}}

| exposure = ?  <!--- full sun, part-sun, semi-shade, shade, indoors, bright filtered (you may list more than 1) -->

| exposure = full sun, part-sun

| water = ?  <!--- frequent, regular, moderate, drought tolerant, let dry then soak -->

| water = regular

| features =     <!--- flowers, fragrance, fruit, naturalizes, invasive -->

| features = edible

| hardiness =    <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 5°C (40°F), etc -->

| hardiness =    <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 5°C (40°F), etc -->

| bloom =    <!--- seasons which the plant blooms, if it is grown for its flowers -->

| bloom =    <!--- seasons which the plant blooms, if it is grown for its flowers -->

| usda_zones = ?  <!--- eg. 8-11 -->

| usda_zones = 6+{{RHS}}

| sunset_zones =     <!--- eg. 8, 9, 12-24, not available -->

| sunset_zones = not available

| color = IndianRed

| color = IndianRed

| image = Malva verticillata2 WPC.jpg

| image = Malva verticillata2 WPC.jpg

| species = verticillata

| species = verticillata

}}

}}

Hhardy to zone 6 and hardy to frost. Flowers July - September, with seeds ripening August - October. The flowers are hermaphrodite and require insect pollination. The plant is self-fertile.

Hardy to zone 6 and hardy to frost. Flowers July - September, with seeds ripening August - October. The flowers are hermaphrodite and require insect pollination. The plant is self-fertile.

 

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.  

==Cultivation==

==Cultivation==

Eeasily grown in the garden in ordinary soil, although it likes good drainage and moderate fertility in the soil, as well as sun.. Grown as salad crop in parts of Europe. Variety 'Crispa' has more tender leaves, with attractive curled leaf edges. Cultivated for over 2,500 years in China.  

Eeasily grown in the garden in any soil, although it likes good drainage and moderate fertility in the soil, as well as part or full sun. It is not particular about the soil alkalinity, either. It requires moist soil. Grown as salad crop in parts of Europe. Variety 'Crispa' has more tender leaves, with attractive curled leaf edges. Cultivated for over 2,500 years in China.  

The plant can produce concentrated levels of nitrates if your soil is high in nitrogen, especially from inorganic nitrogen fertilizers.  If levels of nitrogen are not elevated, leaves are safe to eat.

The plant can produce concentrated levels of nitrates if your soil is high in nitrogen, especially from inorganic nitrogen fertilizers.  If levels of nitrogen are not elevated, leaves are safe to eat.