Wild mallow

• 16 Oct, 2009
• 4 likes

This is a wild Rose of Sharon, probably a garden escape

This plant was introduced to North America before 1600. It is the national flower of Korea.

The young leaves - raw or cooked - have a very mild flavor and are added to salad bowls. The flowers can be steeped for tea or added to salad for a delightful effect.

In herbal medicine the leaves are diuretic, expectorant, and a stomachic. The flowers and roots are also used for medicine.