Growing Alba Malva Moschata Garden Seeds
- Taxonomy: Malva moschata f. alba
- Other Names: Musk Mallow, White Musk Mallow
- Seed Type: Annual (Biennial in zones 7 - 8)
- Sow Indoors or Outdoors: Alba malva seeds can be directly sown after the frost, but for earliest blooms, begin indoors 10 – 12 weeks before final frost date. Malva seeds will germinate in 7 – 14 days with full light and, once germinated, move to fluorescent grow light until two sets of true leaves have developed. Harden off if transplanting outside to a sunny spot or similarly warm place indoors. Even if plants die off from flowering, Alba plants will likely reseed on their own for next spring.
- Days to Maturity: 56 – 63 days
- Hardiness Zone: 4 – 8
- Planting Depth: Plant 2 – 3 seeds ¼” deep
- Plant Spacing: 18”
- Growth Habit: 24 – 36” shrubby upright with an 18 – 24” spread of 2” five-lobed blooms
- Soil Preference: Average, loamy, well-drained
- Light Preference: Full sun
- Diseases/Pests/Troubleshooting: Alba moschata thrives in well-drained soil and can be susceptible to rust in the long summer months but, other than that, plants are very hardy performers. The genus Malva, however, is heavily susceptible to potyvirus, a disease found in aphids scattered throughout Europe and even found in California.
- Color: Pristine white petals with a soft green and pink center
Alba moschata seeds can be directly sown after the frost, but for earliest blooms, begin indoors 10 – 12 weeks before final frost. Malva seeds will germinate in 7 – 14 days with full light and, once germinated, move to fluorescent grow light until two sets of true leaves have developed. Harden off if transplanting outside to a sunny spot or similarly warm place indoors. Even if plants die off from flowering, Alba plants will likely reseed on their own for next spring. Plant 2 – 3 Alba malva seeds ¼” deep and 18” apart in average, loamy, and well-drained soil in full sun. Alba malva thrives in well-drained soil and can be susceptible to rust in the long summer months but, other than that, plants are very hardy performers. The genus Malva, however, is susceptible to potyvirus, a disease found in aphids scattered throughout Europe and even found in California. Alba moschata seeds mature in 56 – 63 days as 24 – 36” shrubby malva plants with an 18 – 24” wide spread of 2” blooms in pristine white with a soft green and pink center.
Malva moschata f. alba is a species of the beloved mallow genus Malva and has accrued a number of common names throughout the centuries including Musk Mallow, White Musk Mallow, and Cheese by English-speaking countries and Mauve des Bois by the French by French-speaking countries. Thomas Jefferson referred to the famous heirloom flower as "French mallow.” Malva moschata f. alba is sometimes mistakenly referred to as “Hollyhock” because they both share the same Malvaceae family.