Marsh Mallow is highly regarded as a beneficial medicinal herb and has been widely used for the last 2000 years in both foods and in medicines. The root of the plant was in the original recipe to make the sweet Marshmallow that is popular for s'mores! Marsh Mallow herbs are also attractive shrubs in the garden with pink blooms.

Marsh Mallow herb seeds need a cold treatment. The seeds can be directly planted in the garden in the late fall where the seeds go through the cold, wet conditions and then germinate in the spring. Or, start the herb seeds indoors in the spring, but give them a period of cold stratification in the refrigerator prior to sowing.

Marsh Mallow plants do well in full sun to part sun. They prefer moist soils and do not like to dry out.

• Give the Marsh Mallow seeds a period of cold stratification prior to sowing
• Start the seeds in flats and keep the seeds moist
• Transplant the seedlings into larger containers as needed
• Harden off seedlings
• Plant out into the garden once the danger of frost has passed

• Marsh Mallow plants are hardy plants that don't require much care
• They do prefer moist conditions
• No fertilizers are needed, but a layer of compost around the base of the shrub each year is helpful
• The spent flowers can be deadheaded and dead leaves can be removed to keep the shrubs attractive
• The roots can be harvested after 2 full growing seasons