The delicate flowers of this mallow hover amongst plantings in the Rose Garden.
Occurring from Europe to northern Pakistan Althaea cannabina (palm-leaf marshmallow) grows in wasteland, meadows, forest edges and roadsides in rocky, calcareous soils. It is a valuable plant for hot, dry conditions in full sun. Reaching 2m in height it is a woody-based perennial with a light, open habit. The wiry stems bear large, hairy lower leaves, and smaller, lobed upper leaves, and resemble those of hemp, or cannabis, hence the specific name cannabina. Pink, cup-shaped axillary flowers are either solitary or held in clusters on long petioles or peduncles. Belonging to the mallow family Malvaceae the genus Althaea contains nine species from Europe to western Asia. Many members of the genus, such as the marshmallow (A. officinalis) have medicinal properties and the name Althaea means healer in Greek.