Marshmallow (Organic)

Althaea officinalis. Perennial in zones 3-9.

Common edible and medicinal herb native to Europe. Marshmallow has many medicinal uses which include treating stomach acid, aching muscles, insect bites, and dry coughs. Leaves can be eaten raw but taste better cooked. Similar to its okra relative, it is good for thickening soups. Marshmallows of campfire and s’mores fame were once made by drying the root, grinding it into a powder, and then making the powder into a paste and roasting. Water left over from cooking any part of the plant makes a good egg-white substitute. Tea can be made from the flower or root. Grows to 4′ tall. Naturalizes easily, but seeds benefit from some cold to germinate. One way to get good germination is to direct sow outdoors in early spring.

Marshmallow seed is known to have high dormancy and benefits from cold stratification to germinate. Total Viability is printed on the seed packet and includes the germination percentage plus the dormant seed percentage as determined by an independent laboratory. Dormant seed is the portion of a seed sample that does not germinate during the short time period of the seed test, but is determined to be alive and respiring. Dormant seed is likely to germinate with cold stratification and/or longer germination times.