Marshmallow

Althaea officinalis

Origin: Maine

Improvement status: Wild

Seeds per packet: ~100

Germination tested 12/2022: 65%

Life cycle: Perennial

Marshmallow is a classic medicinal herb of Eurasia, naturalized now in much of the Midwest and Northeast. This large perennial mallow is probably best known for being a ingredient in the precursor to the modern sugar/gelatin blobs known as marshmallows. It has a long history is herbal medicine, used as a source of mucilage to soothe sore throats and other inflammation and irritation in the GI tract. Flowers and young leaves are also eaten, and root extracts can be mixed with sesame seeds or sunflower seeds and sugar to make the Middle Eastern dessert-snack called halva.

GROWING TIPS: Seed germinates better after 30 days of cold/moist stratification.