CONTINUE READING
Musk mallow (Malva moschata) is an herbaceous to evergreen perennial belonging to the Malvaceae or Mallow family. It is native to Europe and Northern Africa and has naturalized in parts of North America, specifically the Pacific Northwest, the Great Lakes regions, and the Northeast down to North Carolina.
The basal leaves (and lower stem leaves) have more of a rounded margin, are about 2-3 inches across, and are palmately lobed, usually with 5 major lobes.
The flowers, tender young leaves, and green fruits are edible on musk mallow, both raw and cooked. Some wild food authors claim that this mallow plant isn’t as good as some of the other mallows because the parts get tough sooner – specifically the older leaves.
The plant can grow in zones 3-8 but prefers more temperate climates for which it’s native to. It is best started from seed and sown in fall or early spring. It grows well in average, well-draining garden soil in full sun to part shade.
It’s truly incredible how many wild, edible plants are around us – one just needs the foraging eyes to see and the important know-how to eat them safely. But I promise you, once you start on the wild foraging path, you won’t be able to stop, and the world will be a brighter, more vibrant place because of it.