Common mallow

Common mallow (Malva sylvestris) is often seen on waste ground and roadsides throughout the British Isles, although it is rarer in the far north of Scotland. It is related to plants such as hollyhock and hibiscus.

It grows to a height of up to 36 inches (90 centimetres). The leaves at the base are rounded but those growing off the stems are more like ivy leaves in shape. The flowers, which appear from June to September, are pink to purple and one to two inches across. They have five narrow petals that are marked with dark veins. The fruits are round and comprise a ring of nutlets; these have given rise to folk-names for mallow such as ‘billy buttons’ and ‘cheese flower’.

In ancient times mallow shoots were eaten as a vegetable, and the plant has also found medicinal uses. In medieval times it was believed that it acted as an anti-aphrodisiac for people who needed to be calmed down! More recently, its leaves have been used to treat wasp stings and the sap has been made into poultices and ointments.

© John Welford