Marshmallow Herb Plant (Althaea officinalis)

Enrich your garden with the soothing and versatile Marshmallow Plant (Althaea officinalis), a cherished perennial celebrated for its mucilaginous roots and historical significance. With soft, velvety green leaves and delicate white to pale pink flowers, this herb combines charm and functionality, making it an ideal choice for herbalists, gardeners, and those seeking a natural, pollinator-friendly addition.

Shipping Spring 2025

Product Highlights:

• Robust and Adaptable: Marshmallow is a hardy perennial thriving in USDA Zones 3-9, flourishing in moist, well-drained soil and full sun. Once established, it’s low-maintenance and resilient, perfect for sustainable gardens and organic growers.

• Medicinal and Culinary Gem: Roots, leaves, and flowers, harvestable after 2 years, offer a mild, sweet flavor for teas, syrups, or thickeners. Traditionally used to soothe coughs, digestive issues, and skin irritations, its mucilage provides gentle, natural relief (consult a professional for medicinal use).

• Pollinator Magnet: Its summer blooms attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, boosting biodiversity alongside companion plants like lavender or mint, creating a vibrant, eco-friendly garden.

Ideal For:

• Herbalists crafting natural remedies or teas from homegrown roots and leaves.

• Gardeners seeking low-maintenance, long-term perennials with historical charm.

• Those designing pollinator-friendly landscapes with ornamental and functional appeal.

Planting and Care Instructions:

• Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.5; loamy soil enriched with organic matter is ideal. Avoid overly dry or waterlogged conditions.

• Watering: Water regularly (weekly) during the first year to establish roots; mature plants need biweekly watering, keeping soil consistently moist but not soggy.

• Sun Exposure: Thrives in full sun (6-8 hours daily); tolerates partial shade but may reduce flowering and root vigor.

• Spacing: Plant 2-3 feet apart to accommodate 4-6 foot height and moderate spread. Suitable for garden beds or large containers.

• Maintenance: Mulch to retain moisture and control weeds. Harvest roots after 2 years, leaving some for regrowth. Prune dead stems in late fall to encourage vigor. Wear gloves when handling to avoid mild skin irritation.

Shipping Live Plants

Live plants, particularly annual vegetables, can be quite delicate. To ensure their safe arrival in optimal condition, we take several precautionary measures:

1. Rigorous hardening off process: We prepare the plants to be resilient enough for their journey by gradually acclimating them to outdoor conditions.

2. Application of organic prebiotics and supplements: We treat plants with natural products to enhance their health and vigor before they make the journey.

3. Development of a strong root system: We prioritize cultivating a robust root system so the plants can quickly adapt and flourish upon arrival.

4. Custom packing materials: We use specially designed packing materials to secure and protect the plants during transit, minimizing the risk of damage and ensuring they arrive in the best possible condition.

Our live plants are sold in 3-inch pots and can be shipped to all US states, with the exception of Alaska, Hawaii, California, Oregon, and Washington state. We utilize Priority Mail for shipping to ensure a speedy delivery and ship only on Mondays to ensure no plants languish in mailrooms over the weekend. 

Rates for Shipping Garden Plants
Delicate plants like peppers and tomatoes are expensive to ship, frequently costing more than the plants themselves!! While you can order whatever your desired quantity of plants is, our packaging is for plants in sets of 3. Thus, flat rate shipping is in multiples of 3, starting with 1-3 plants for $17. The shipping cost will auto-populate at checkout. For understanding our full plant shipping, go here.