Althaea officinalis - Marsh Mallow, Common marshmallow

Althaea offici is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 0.8 m (2ft 7in) at a medium rate.
It is hardy to UK zone 3 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Edible Uses

The leaves [raw or cooked] are used as a potherb or to thicken soups. When used as a small proportion with other leaves, the taste and texture is acceptable, but if a lot of the leaves are cooked together their mucilaginous texture makes them unpalatable. The leaves can be eaten raw but are rather fibrous and somewhat hairy, though the taste is mild and pleasant. We have found them to be quite acceptable in salads when chopped up finely.  The root can be eaten raw or cooked and when boiled and then fried with onions it is said to make a palatable dish that is often used in times of shortage. The root is used as a vegetable andit is also dried then ground into a powder, made into a paste and roasted to make the sweet 'marshmallow'. The root contains about 37% starch, 11% mucilage, 11% pectin.

The water left over from cooking any part of the plant can be used as an egg-white substitute in making meringues etc. The water from the root is the most effective, it is concentrated by boiling until it has a similar consistency to egg white.

Teas

A tea is made from the flowers and can also be made from the root.

Smoking

Incorporate the base and flavoring herb marshmallow root to your smoking blend to help smooth out potential harshness. A must-have for any herbal smoker looking to improve their smoking experience. 

Smoking marshmallow root is believed to help with sore throats and coughs, since its soothing smoke helps to moisturize respiratory tracts. 

This sweet and flavorful herb is also slightly psychoactive, making it a good choice if you are looking for a non-cannabis herb to give you a light buzz.

Medicinal Uses

Marsh mallow is a very useful household medicinal herb. Its soothing demulcent properties make it very effective in treating inflammations and irritations of the mucous membranes such as the alimentary canal, the urinary and the respiratory organs.

The root counters excess stomach acid, peptic ulceration and gastritis. It is also applied externally to bruises, sprains, aching muscles, insect bites, skin inflammations, splinters etc[4, 238]. The whole plant, but especially the root, is antitussive, demulcent, diuretic, highly emollient, slightly laxative and odontalgic. An infusion of the leaves is used to treat cystitis and frequent urination.

The leaves are harvested in August when the plant is just coming into flower and can be dried for later use.

The root can be used in an ointment for treating boils and abscesses. The root is best harvested in the autumn, preferably from 2 year old plants, and is dried for later use.  It can be used to soothe irritation of mouth and throat and associated dry cough/bronchitis (Root and leaf), mild stomach lining inflammation (root).

For more information you can visit the PFAF (plants for a future) website here.

1 Plant supplied in 1 L Pot