Marshmallow Herb Seeds

Marshmallow Herb Seeds or Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), white to reddish white blooms.

Minimum 25 seeds per package.

Every herb garden needs to have this versatile perennial! It is highly regarded as a beneficial medicinal herb and has been widely used for the last 2000 years in both foods and in medicines and hummingbirds enjoy their sweet nectar.

Marshmallow plants are very old. The ancient Egyptians would mix the plant’s mucilaginous sap with honey and nuts to make a sweet confection. The roots were often used as a food source in times of famine (they’re edible but not the most palatable). The delicate flowers and fuzzy leaves can be used as herbs in tea or boiled in soups and stews.

Growing Marshmallow plants is a sticky business. The sweet sugar sap is distributed all throughout the plant and can make pruning quite messy. However, marshmallow plants are surprisingly low-maintenance. They’re quite adaptive to different environments, though they prefer very moist soil. After all, as the name implies, these mallows come from marshes!

Marshmallow plants aren’t just for eating. Their tall, leafy stalks and fluttery flower clusters add a whimsical touch to the garden. They’re also perfect for filling in water-logged parts of the yard that most plants won’t take to. If you’re adventurous in the garden and creative in the kitchen, grow marshmallow plants! 

Season: Perennial

USDA Zones: 3 - 9

Height: approx. 48 inches

Bloom Season: Mid summer to early fall

Bloom Color: White

Environment: Full sun to partial shade

Soil Type: Prefers sandy, moist soil

Deer Resistant: Yes

Temperature: Max 41F

Average Germ Time: Germination irregular, often several months

Light Required: No

Depth: Sow seeds just below the soil surface

Sowing Rate: 5 - 6 seeds per plant

Moisture: Keep seeds lightly moist until germination

Plant Spacing:  approx. 18 - 24 inches

The Marshmallow root is yellow-white and sweet. It is similar in taste to a parsnip. The roots can be harvested in the fall for drying.

Marshmallow herb plants prefer moist soils. Some gardeners recommend a fall planting so that the cold temperatures aid in the germination of the Marshmallow herb seeds.

If starting the Marshmallow seeds indoors, place the herb seeds in moistened peat moss, and place the peat moss/seed mixture in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 weeks. After that cold treatment, sow the herb seeds in small pots. Once established, the Marshmallow plant is known to self-seed but not in an aggressive way. Or direct sow in sandy moist soil. Sun to part sun.

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