Marshmallow Plant (Althaea officials)

Soft, soothing, and steeped in herbal history, the Marshmallow Plant brings gentle beauty and old-world charm to your garden. With fuzzy, silver-green leaves and pale pink blooms, this graceful perennial is as lovely to look at as it is useful — once prized as the original source of the sweet treat we know today.

Plant Height:
3–5 feet tall and 2–3 feet wide

Growing Zone:
Zones 3–9

Sun Requirements:
Full sun to light shade

Ease of Growing:
Easy – tolerant, adaptable, and great for herbal beginners

Why Grow Marshmallow?
Althaea officinalis has been cultivated for centuries in Europe and Western Asia for its medicinal properties. The roots, leaves, and flowers are all used in traditional herbal remedies — particularly to soothe irritated skin, sore throats, and dry coughs. Its mucilaginous properties make it a staple in herbal teas, salves, and syrups.

Beyond its healing uses, marshmallow is simply beautiful in the garden. It blooms throughout the summer, attracting bees and other pollinators with its soft, hibiscus-like flowers, and adds a whimsical, old-fashioned look to cottage gardens, apothecary beds, and wildflower patches.

Growing Tips:

• Prefers moist, well-drained soil — thrives near ponds, low beds, or rain gardens.

• Prune in early spring to encourage bushier growth.

• Can be harvested after the second year for root use.

• Allow seed heads to dry on the plant if you’d like to collect and re-sow.