Malva sylvestris Mystic Merlin - seeds

This eye-catching mix of Malva sylvestris Mystic Merlin is more biennial than perennial. These plants produce sturdy stems covered in purple, blue, violet and mauve flowers with elusive shades, deeply veined with darker flames, emerging from dark foliage reminiscent of ivy. This is an easy-to-grow plant in partial shade or full sun and offers a magnificent spectacle throughout the summer, even in the first year of cultivation. It is hardy, adapts to almost all soils, and tolerates drought.

Malva sylvestris is a medicinal plant native to sunny meadows and woodlands in Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It belongs to the malvaceae family, like the marshmallow (Althea officinalis) used by pharmacists. 'Mystic Merlin' is a selection of top-quality horticultural varieties. It is an erect biennial plant measuring 1.50 m (5ft) high when flowering and occupying 60 cm (24in) of space on the ground. It quickly forms a clump of large heart-shaped to rounded, dark green, slightly lobed, crenate and beautiful leaves. Flowering takes place from June to September depending on the sowing date. The flowers are grouped in well-distributed clusters on sturdy stems, displaying perfect architecture and chromatic harmony. Their 5-petaled notched corollas are adorned with various colours, from purple to violet, with intermediate shades like mauves or blues. Veins on the petals form a pattern resembling darker, tapering flames that plunge towards the heart of the flower. The flowers attract pollinating insects.

Wood mallow is ideal in natural areas, on large slopes, or in cottage gardens alongside hollyhocks, hybrid mulleins, or tall thistles.

Mallow is also a food plant. Its young leaves are consumed as a vegetable in Morocco, just like spinach, prepared with lemon juice. It is a delicious dish and useful for promoting intestinal transit. This plant is also known for soothing burns and digestive disorders. In Mediterranean cuisines, it is used raw in salads. Nowadays, it is used in the preparation of soothing balms.