Musk Mallow 'Alba' Seeds

Musk Mallow is a refined, wild perennial that brings softness and light to the garden. 'Alba' produces pure white, shallowly-cupped flowers that shimmer with a silken texture. The best part? The flowers and finely-dissected, fern-like foliage emit a gentle, musky fragrance when the air is still or when brushed past.

This is a wonderfully versatile plant. Unlike its giant cousins (like the Tree Mallow), it stays a manageable 60cm tall, forming a lush, upright clump that flowers tirelessly for months. It is an indispensable filler, weaving its delicate foliage through more structural plants.

Why Your Garden Needs 'Musk Mallow Alba'

We love this perennial for its long flowering season. It begins blooming in early summer and, with minimal deadheading, will keep producing new flowers right through until the first frost of autumn. It ensures you have colour and fragrance during the mid-summer lull.

It is also a true all-rounder. It tolerates poor soil, sun, or light shade, and the flowers themselves are edible. They make a beautiful, elegant garnish for summer salads, desserts, and cocktails.

Understanding the Plant: What is a Hardy Perennial?

Musk Mallow is a robust Hardy Perennial.

This means it forms a permanent, long-lasting clump that returns reliably every spring.
Habit: It is clump-forming (it does not run or spread aggressively) but will often self-seed gently around the garden, producing delightful little volunteer plants for free.
Top Tip: Deadhead! If you cut back the spent flower stems, the plant will use that energy to produce new shoots and extend its blooming period right into October.

Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow

Musk Mallow is incredibly easy to germinate and grow.

🌱 Germination:
Sow indoors Feb-April, or directly outdoors May-June. Sow the large seeds 5mm deep in moist compost. They germinate easily and reliably in 10-21 days.

Where to Sow:
It is happy in full sun or light partial shade. It is tolerant of poor, dry, or rich soil, making it highly versatile for any area of the garden.

Care While Growing:
This plant is virtually maintenance-free. Ensure you water it regularly when young. Once established, it is drought tolerant. In autumn, cut the stems back hard to the base once they die back in preparation for new spring growth.

Plant Specifications

Here is a quick reference guide to the key features.

My Recommended Garden Companions

The white flowers and fine foliage of Musk Mallow look beautiful when contrasted with intense colour or bold texture:

• 🔥 Geum 'Mrs J. Bradshaw': For dynamic contrast. The fierce, semi-double scarlet-red flowers of the Geum look incredible next to the soft, cool white of the Mallow. Both are hardy perennials.
• 💙 Linum Perenne (Blue Flax): Create a "cool" pastel theme. The delicate azure-blue flowers of the Linum provide a perfect colour harmony and textural contrast to the Musk Mallow.

📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar

Sow in spring/autumn. Plants establish the first year and flower profusely the second.

(↔️ Swipe chart to see all months)