Mallow 'Zebrina' Seeds

Zebrina is the mallow that stops people in their tracks: each pale pink flower is boldly striped with deep magenta veins. Malva sylvestris 'Zebrina' is a cottage-garden classic that flowers for months from early summer, holding its blooms along upright stems above rounded, lobed leaves. The flowers are edible, adding colour to salads or brewing into a pale floral tea, and the young leaves can be used like spinach. Bees and butterflies visit all summer. It does best in poorer soil, so it suits gravel, dry borders and large containers.

Sowing and growing

• Sow indoors February to March, or outdoors April to June where it is to flower
• Depth: 0.5 cm
• Germination: 15 to 21 days
• Position: full sun to partial shade, in light, well-drained, even poor soil; no feeding needed
• Height: 60 to 90 cm; spread 45 to 60 cm
• Flowers: June to September, often in the first year from an early sowing
• Lifecycle: short-lived perennial, often grown as a biennial; hardy and self-seeds freely, so deadhead to control it

What you receive: a packet of about 20 open-pollinated seeds from Piccolo Seeds, with growing instructions on the back.

Zebrina mallow also comes in our Floral Teas seed collection. See more plants for pollinators and the full seed range.