Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging marsh mallow

Althaea officinalis

Typically in season from April to October in the northern hemisphere. Found in Wetland, Waterside, Disturbed ground. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis)

Photo: (c) Stefan.lefnaer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · iNaturalist

When marsh mallow is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak April to October. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

marsh mallow is usually found in Wetland, Waterside, Disturbed ground.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Deadly look-alikes: Foxglove, Comfrey, Common mallow. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take marsh mallow into the field

Open marsh mallow in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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marsh mallow: common questions

When is marsh mallow in season?

marsh mallow is generally in season from April to October in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does marsh mallow grow?

marsh mallow is usually found in Wetland, Waterside, Disturbed ground.

Is marsh mallow safe to forage?

Deadly look-alikes: Foxglove, Comfrey, Common mallow. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits