Malva Zabrina

Malva 'Zebrina' has delicate, silky pale-pink flowers with narrow purple stripes radiating from the centre. It’s an elegant border plant with an old-fashioned charm. The young leaves can be added to salads, and while the flowers are also edible, I’d rather enjoy them left blooming on the plant.

🌸 Flowering: July to October

📏 Height: to 120cm

🌿Perennial

SOW: son spring or late summer, start seeds in pots or modules filled with moist (not soggy) seed compost. Lightly cover with perlite or vermiculite and pop the whole thing in a plastic bag to keep humidity in. Keep them warm — around 20°C — and be patient; germination usually takes 1–3 weeks, sometimes a bit longer. Once they’re up, remove the bag.

GROW: when big enough to handle, harden off and plant out about 50–60cm apart. They like a sunny spot and have that lovely, old-school border charm.

ENJOY: great in the GARDEN or CUT for a vase. This is EDIBLE: add the leaves to salads if you like — the flowers too, though I usually leave them for the BEES (and for looks!).