A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Mystic Merlin Mallow

I planted one last fall. It has grown monstrous this spring (over five ft. tall) and has already completely bloomed itself out. Should I cut it back? How far? Will it rebloom later if I do? This is my first experience with this plant.

Alan,
Are they similar to the Zebrina variety?

*are they makin' any seed pods..*

Yes, very similar to Zebrina, just a different color. It is making seed pods, so I'll save some seeds. I thought since it's in the same family as the Hollyhock I could cut it back near the ground and it would regrow and possibly rebloom. I found one article that said it was biennial, and another that said it was a perennial that self sows. You never know how a plant is going to do in your own garden until you try it, so I think I'll cut it back and see what happens.

Could you post a picture of the seed pod. I'm having a heck of a time finding them on my Malva. And I really want to save the seeds because they were so pretty this year. Mine are still blooming. They take about a 2 week break between flowerings but then they just make a bunch more.

The Malva seed pods form where there was a bloom. They look like this picture in the beginning. Wait for them to turn brown before you pick them. Each little pod has 4 or 5 seeds in it.

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I hope this helps, TK...

Rosie

hi alan

I am not sure if your mallow is the same as the one I have but I planted it last summer and mine self seeds itself........and this spring I had quite a few babies popping up around the original plant location. (The original plant did not grow back.) So my advice would be to let it seed before cutting him down.
I recall having one baby mallow start late last year from the seeds and this year it is about 3 feet and already blooming where as the other seedlings that just started are only about 1 foot so far.
Not sure if that is the normal thing or if it was just a fluke that it survived because we had such a mild winter this year.

In any event let it seed and see what happens

Good luck
Laurie