All plants /Ground /Common Mallow
Common Mallow
Malva neglecta, mallow family. Common in East and Central Texas.
At a glance
- What
- Leaves and the round green seed 'cheeses'
- How
- Leaves raw or cooked; the mucilage thickens soups
- When
- Cool halves of the year
- Where
- Gardens, lots, sidewalk edges
- Value
- Vitamins A and C; a natural thickener
Caution: A safe, mild, very common plant; harvest away from sprayed ground. Never eat a wild plant on this guide's word alone. Confirm identity against several sources and learn the look-alikes first.
Identification
Round scalloped leaves and small pale flowers, with flat button-like green fruits kids have long called 'cheeses.' A wild cousin of okra and hibiscus.
In the kitchen
Mild leaves for salad or pot, and a mucilage that thickens soups like okra. The green 'cheeses' are a fun raw nibble.
Photo: Robert Flogaus-Faust, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Forages well with
Forage safely. Never eat a wild plant on this site's word alone. Confirm identity with several sources, learn the look-alikes, and when in doubt, leave it in the ground.