Malva lepidota Plant Care

Malva lepidota (Malvella lepidota) belongs to the Malvaceae family within the Malvella genus. Malva lepidota is native to United States, Mexico. Malva lepidota is also known as Small-flowered Cheeseweed.

Malva lepidota displays an upright, branching shrub growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Malva lepidota produces showy, colorful blooms in shades of pink, purple, or white.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Malva lepidota every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Malva lepidota thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Malvella lepidota tolerates temperatures of 65–80°F. Malva lepidota prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Malva lepidota to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Malva lepidota every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Malva lepidota is suited to USDA Zone 7a – 10b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Malva lepidota can spread to about 2 ft (0.6 m) and reach about 3 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 2 ft (0.6 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Malva lepidota while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Malva lepidota is hardy down to USDA zone 7a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Malva lepidota can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to alkali mallow plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Malva lepidota is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Malva lepidota grows outdoors in USDA Zone 7a – 10b. It survives winters down to planting zone 7a. Malva lepidota is native to United States, Mexico.