Malva sylvestris Zebrina. The Zebrina Mallow is a short-lived perennial or biennial from the Malvaceae family. It is originally derived from species found across Europe and North Africa. The plant grows in a vertical, branching habit that usually tops out between three and four feet in height. Its most distinctive feature is the two-inch flowers, which consist of five lavender-pink petals. These petals have deep purple or maroon veins that radiate from the center to the edges. The plant starts blooming in early summer and generally does not stop until the first frost hits in the fall.
The foliage is made up of dark green, rounded leaves with shallow lobes and a slightly rough texture. One of the key biological features of this mallow is its deep taproot, which allows it to survive in dry conditions and poor soil where other plants would die. However, this root system also means the plant does not like to be moved once it is in the ground. While a single plant might only live for a few years, it produces a large amount of seeds in circular pods. These seeds drop to the ground and sprout the following year, which is why the plant often seems to live forever in a garden.
For successful growth, this plant needs to be in a spot that gets full sun. If it is grown in the shade, the stems become weak and the whole thing will eventually fall over under its own weight. It is hardy in most climates, specifically from USDA zones 4 through 9. The main issue people run into when growing it is a fungus called rust, which creates orange spots on the leaves. To prevent this, it helps to keep the leaves dry and make sure there is enough space between plants for air to move through.
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