Marshmallow is a large, perennial plant popular for its hibiscus-like flowers. The roots and leaves of the plant contain mucilage, a substance that forms a thick gel when combined with water. Marshmallow was used for medicinal purposes and ancient Egyptians began making the sweet treat that became today’s marshmallows (which no longer contain traces of the plant). The flowers are loved by pollinators. Brown seed pods form in late September, releasing tiny black seeds when ripe.
Depending on the climate, marshmallow is planted from seed in fall or spring.
The plant is easy to care for and is an excellent choice for moist, swampy areas. Here are the key care requirements for growing a marshmallow plant:
Plant marshmallow in a full sun location with moist or wet soil with good drainage.
Add a 2-inch layer of mulch around the plants and keep the area weed-free until the plants are large and established.
Marshmallow does not need fertilizing.
During the growing season, remove spent flowers and any dead leaves.
Marshmallow plants need full sun; they do not do well in shade. Be careful not to plant them in a location where larger plants will cast shade on them.
As the name suggests, marshmallow likes boggy, wet areas. An area with consistently moist soil with a slightly acidic pH of around 6.0 is ideal. Don’t worry too much about acidic soil conditions, though, as these plants are not picky about soil pH.
Consistent moisture with good drainage is essential for marshmallow plants. If your soil is sandy, add moisture-retaining soil amendments like organic matter. Standing water, on the other hand, is too wet for the plants.
Marshmallow plants are hardy plants that thrive in a wide range of climates and humidity levels. They are extremely cold tolerant, but will die back in sub-freezing temperatures and sprout again in the spring. They have no particular moisture preferences or dislikes.
Marshmallow plants grow in so many different soils (they can even tolerate soils with high salinity) that applying a special type of fertilizer isn’t really necessary, especially if you’ve already added organic matter to the soil.
It’s not absolutely necessary to prune marshmallow plants, but it does improve the plant’s appearance if you remove spent flowers and dead leaves. This also makes the plant less inviting to pests.
Marshmallow plants are easy to propagate by root division:
Wait for the plant to go dormant in late fall or early winter before the ground freezes.
Dig up the plant with its entire root system.
Divide the root mass into smaller sections using a sharp spade.
Replant the sections in a new suitable location at the same depth as the original plant.
Propagation by division can also be done in early spring, before the foliage has begun to sprout, but because the plants die back in winter, it can be difficult to find them before they emerge from their winter dormancy.
Marshmallow plants are easy to grow from seed, directly in the ground in late fall if your area has mild winters, or in early spring if your winters are cold. The seeds germinate better if they are cold stratified at 0 to 5°C for eight to twelve weeks before planting.
If you are not planting the seeds in the fall (nature will take care of the stratification), place the seeds in a plastic bag with some slightly moistened peat moss in the refrigerator.
After the cold stratification period, start seeds indoors three to four weeks before the last frost date, or sow outdoors after the danger of frost has passed.
Sow them in groups of five or six seeds, spaced 18 to 24 inches apart.
Lightly cover the seeds with soil and keep them moist until they germinate. Germination usually takes about three to four weeks.
If you sowed the seeds indoors, transplant the seedlings outdoors after hardening off in mid to late spring.
Growing marshmallow in containers is not recommended, as the plant needs consistently moist soil, which is difficult to maintain since potted plants dry out much faster than garden soil.
Since marshmallow is extremely cold-hardy and dies back during the winter months, overwintering doesn’t require any special precautions. However, it’s always a good idea to trim off any dead stems or leaves to keep your garden tidy and increase air circulation around the plants when they sprout again in the spring.
Although almost all parts of the marshmallow plant are edible, pests tend to leave it alone. One invader that might feast on your marshmallow plants, however, is flea beetles, which lay their eggs near the roots of the plant. The larvae feed first on the roots, then on the leaves, leaving pinhead-sized holes. If the problem occurs, apply neem oil.1
Marshmallow plants are fairly disease resistant, with the exception of rust, a fungal disease that appears as raised white dots on the underside of the leaves.1 The affected areas eventually turn orange, then yellowish-green, and finally black. If you notice this condition, remove any affected leaves and avoid overhead watering. In severe cases, apply a copper-based fungicide designed to treat rust.
How to Make Marshmallow Bloom
Blooming Months
Marshmallow blooms from July to September.
Individual blooms are short-lived, but the plant blooms all summer long until fall.
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The bloom is visually impressive, but the flowers are not fragrant. The tall, elegant flower spikes are covered with almost white to reddish or light pink flowers.
If your marshmallow plant isn’t blooming profusely, it’s most likely due to a lack of sun. Place it in a spot where it gets six to eight hours of full sun per day. You can also prune surrounding plants that cast shade to let in more sunlight.
Remove spent blooms and dead leaves to prevent the plants from attracting unwanted pests.
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