Marsh Mallow
Althea officinalis
Its
botanical name is from a Greek word, altho, meaning “to heal.” Has been
used since ancient Egyptian times. Many members of the mallow family have
similar properties, including domesticated garden hollyhocks and common
mallows. Some believe marsh-mellows were originally made from the root of
this plant; cooked with sugar and whipped until they were fluffy.
Family:
Malvaceae
Life cycle:
Herbaceous perennial (Zones 5-8)
Native:
Originally indigenous to Asia, then spread to
southeast
Europe and east to China.
Height:
2-5 feet
Sun:
Sun, partial sun, shade.
Soil:
Prefers a moist, loamy soil. Naturalized in salt
marshes along
Mid-Atlantic States.
Water:
Moderate to high
Flowers:
Pale pink flowers bloom from the bottom of the
stalk in
mid-to-late summer.
Seed:
Stratify seed for several weeks. Plant directly
outside as
soon as the soil is workable. Or sow inside then transplant outside
in mid to late spring. Germination of 70 to 80 percent of seeds
planted. Takes 2
to 3 weeks for sprouting to occur. Will grow in
clumps. Space about 12-24 inches
apart.
Pests:
No significant pests to note.
Harvesting:
The roots should be harvested in spring or fall.
Roots
are large and deep so use a garden fork or needle nose spade.
Flowers and
leaves can be hand picked at any time.
Parts used:
Leaves, roots, and fresh or dried flowers
Used as:
Decoction, infusion, tincture, syrup, elixir,
lozenge,
compress, poultice, medicinal food, ointment, salve, cream, balm,
infused oil, powder.
Medicinal Benefits:
Root (up to 30%) and leaves (up to 16%) high in mucilagin, responsible for demulcent or soothing effect to irritated
mucous
membranes and skin. Marsh Mallow is a soothing herb for
the gastrointestinal
tract, urinary tract, and throat. Often used for
winter illnesses and to
alleviate skin conditions. Approved in Europe for cough and bronchitis.
Market Potential:
Moderate. Prices range from $5.00-$28.00/DW lb
for root, and $3.90-$36.00 for tops, as retail bulk dried herb.
KSU Field Trial Data -
2002-2002.
|
MARSHMALLOW |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1st Year |
2nd Year |
3rd Year |
Average |
Comments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Location/Years |
5 |
3 |
0 |
|
No 3rd
year plants available yet. |
|
Survival (%) |
94.8 |
94.7 |
* |
94.8 |
|
|
Vigor (rating) |
4.3 |
4.9 |
* |
4.6 |
|
|
Height (cm) |
80.6 |
121.3 |
* |
101.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DW Herb
(g/plant) |
193.8 |
470.9 |
* |
|
Plants were sig.
larger in 2nd year. |
|
DW Root
(g/plant) |
99.9 |
497.5 |
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maturity (rating) |
3.9 |
4.8 |
* |
4.3 |
Flowering occurred
earlier in 2nd yr. |
|
Insect (rating) |
0.8 |
1.4 |
* |
1.1 |
Some leaf feeding
noted in late season. |
|
Disease (rating) |
0.6 |
0.4 |
* |
0.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Est. planting
density |
19,360 |
19,360 |
|
|
Plants/acre at 1.5
x 1.5 ft. spacing. |
|
Plant density x
survival. |
18,353 |
18,334 |
|
|
|
|
kg/acre DW (g/plant
x # of plants - tops) |
3557 |
8633 |
|
|
|
|
kg/acre DW (g/plant
x # of plants - roots) |
1833 |
9121 |
|
|
|
|
Est. Marketable Yld
(DW lb/acre tops) |
7835 |
19,016 |
|
|
|
|
Est. Marketable Yld
(DW lb/acre
roots) |
4038 |
20,091 |
|
|
|
|
Yld x ˝ of “low”
price - tops |
$19,585 |
$47,540 |
|
|
|
|
Yld x ˝ of “high”
price - tops |
$109,690 |
$266,224 |
|
|
|
|
Yld x ˝ of “low”
price - roots |
$10,095 |
$50,228 |
|
|
|
|
Yld x ˝ of “high”
price - roots |
$56,535 |
$281,274 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Summary of
field trial data:
This
appears to be a well adapted plant to Kansas. It survived on both wet and dry
site/years, but did best under well-watered conditions. Both top and root
biomass was heavy in the second year. Obviously, if the plant is harvested for
the root market, tops could not be harvested the following year. Drying this
much plant material could be a problem for large scale growers, and the demand
for this crop does not appear to be high at this time. Some insect feeding on
leaves was noted, but there did not appear to be significant yield loss to
insects or disease.
