Marsh mallow plants or Althaea officinalis grow wild in marshy areas in the mid-Atlantic. This hardy perennial features soft velvety leaves and pale pink flowers that appear midsummer to early autumn. The plant contains a thick mucilage long used as a folk remedy for constipation and coughs. You can grow a marsh mallow plant in regular gardens as well.
Instructions
1. Stratify the seeds in midwinter, as they need a period of cool weather that mimics life in the wild to germinate. Place a small amount of damp sand in a plastic bag and mix the seeds with the sand. Let the bag stand at room temperature for a day to absorb the moisture. Place it in the refrigerator for a month to six weeks. Shake the bag occasionally, and if you see germination beginning, immediately plant.
2. Fill a container with drainage holes with potting mix. Place the stratified seeds and sand on the top of the mix. Keep the container moist by covering it with a tent made of toothpicks and plastic wrap.
3. Keep the container in a sunny yet cool area. Wait until after the last frost to transplant the seedlings outside.
4. Thin the plants to one foot apart the first year. The plants begins to get crowded as they grow. Separate during the second year to two feet apart as the plant nears its full height of 4 feet.
Tags: Keep container