Description

(Althaea officinalis)

Flavours/Food Partners:

The seeds, flowers and leaves of the Marshmallow plant have traditionally been added to salads or steamed as a vegetable, although the main use is of the root to produce a paste that is then used to treat sore throats. It can be mixed with rose water and meringue to produce’marshmallow’.

Health/Cooking/Medicinal:

The foliage, flowers and seed can be used as a salad or steamed vegetable. The main tap root is soaked in water for several hours until the water thickens. The roots are then dumped, and the liquid is used as an ointment or as the base for a traditional Marshmallow.

Landscaping/Planting:

The plant prefers boggy, marsh like conditions with full sun but will grow in sandy or well drained soils if provided with regular watering. The plant can deal with occasional dry spells but is not drought tolerant. In very cold climates it will die down in early winter and then grow back in mid spring.

Cultivation/Fertiliser:

Regular applications of Seasol and Powerfeed from spring until autumn will keep the plant healthy and growing well.

Herb Attributes