Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the patio, or anywhere else, marshmallow is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing marshmallow.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | When to Harvest | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Does Marshmallow Belong To?
Marshmallow (Althea officinalis) belongs to the Malvaceae family, also known as the mallow family.
Some of its relatives include okra, hollyhock, and cacao.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Marshmallow?
The minimum container size recommended for marshmallow is 5 gallons.
A 5-gallon bucket or container is usually about 12 inches deep. But the capacity of the container is important because marshmallow needs to spread out in all directions, not just vertically.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Marshmallow?
Some of marshmallow's best companions are as follows:
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Marshmallow?
Marshmallow is not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with marshmallow are as follows:
- Fennel
- Tomato
- Potato
- Peppers like bell pepper and jalapeño
- Sage
- Rose
- Rosemary
- Lavender
- Motherwort
- Other plants that do not like continuously moist soil or "wet feet"
What Soil Conditions Does Marshmallow Need?
Marshmallow prefers soil that is continuously moist. It is called marshmallow for a reason! It likes marshlike conditions.
Loamy to clay soils tend to retain water the best, so they are good matches for marshmallow.
The pH of the soil should be neutral to slightly acidic.
How Long Does Marshmallow Take to Germinate?
Marshmallow takes 3-4 weeks to germinate at a temperature of 50-75°F.
How Much Sun Does Marshmallow Need?
Marshmallow can grow in full sun to part shade.
In other words, it grows fastest in full sun. It will still grow in dappled shade or part shade, just at a slower rate.
Marshmallow grown in the shade is more susceptible to pests and diseases since it takes longer to grow.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and marshmallow grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Does Marshmallow Need?
Marshmallow needs a minimum of 2 inches of water per week. Its soil should be continuously moist.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Marshmallow?
Marshmallow grows fastest in temperatures of 60-70°F.
This is its ideal temperature range. Although it will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety.
Marshmallow is very hardy. A healthy mature marshmallow plant can survive temperatures down to -10°F.
How Tall Does Marshmallow Get?
The average height of marshmallow is 3-5 feet.
Is Marshmallow Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Marshmallow is a perennial herb, meaning that it lives for more than a couple years.
How Does Marshmallow Reproduce?
Marshmallow reproduces by seed. It can also be propagated by root division.
When Can I Harvest Marshmallow Root?
Marshmallow root can be harvested in the 2nd or 3rd autumn of the plant's life.
Can Marshmallow Be Ingested?
Marshmallow leaves and flowers are edible.
Marshmallow roots are edible after processing.
Marshmallow roots, leaves, and flowers have anti-inflammatory, demulcent, and expectorant properties and can be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparations are tea and tinctures.
Tea is the preferred preparation since it captures much more of the soothing mucilage than tincture does. Mucilage is also heat-sensitive, so the tea should be long-steeped in cold, cool, or room-temperature water, not boiling or hot water, if possible.
An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:5 at 25% alcohol is suggested for a marshmallow root tincture.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting marshmallow root, leaves, or flowers.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of marshmallow rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for marshmallow here!
Marshmallow is featured in these Plant to Plate articles:
- Simple Uses for Marshmallow
- Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden
- Gardening in Full Sun
- Gardening in Dappled Shade