Malva moschata Snow White - seeds

Malva moschata Snow White, also known as musk mallow 'Snow White', is a dwarf and compact variety that forms small, bushy plants covered in sparkling, fully open, snow-white flowers in summer. Its lobed and velvety foliage emits a particular, slightly musky aroma when crushed. This perennial, robust plant is easy to sow and grow in the garden. It will fit well in natural borders and country gardens, even in poor and dry soil.

Malva moschata is a herbaceous perennial plant native to Europe and North Africa with a woody base, belonging to the mallow family, like marshmallow and hollyhocks. In the wild, it grows spontaneously in dry areas, fallow land, meadows, or on slopes. The 'Snow White' cultivar is a dwarf form that forms compact, branched clumps 30 to 38 cm (12 to 15in) in all directions, when in bloom. Its white flowers with 5 flat, cup-shaped petals, 4 cm (2in) in diameter, appear from June to September. They are pure white and fully open in bright sunlight, revealing a centre of pink stamens. As the light becomes less intense, they close completely. The flowers are so numerous that they cover the foliage. In humid climates, this plant is sometimes prone to rust, which stains its beautiful, narrow, dark green, velvety-textured leaves. When crushed, these leaves emit a strange fragrance, combining musk and cheese. The flowers are followed by black fruits containing seeds.

Musk mallow Snow White is a perfect plant for wild or holiday gardens, as it grows and self-seeds (not always faithfully) on its own. It can be grown with simple plants with similar requirements, such as Echinops ritro, Nigella damascena, Linum perenne, Catananche caerulea, and many others. Its compact habit allows it to be grown in pots on the terrace, where it will look beautiful mixed with Malva sylvestris Zebrina, for example.