When Thomas Jefferson noted "French Mallow" on an undated memorandum of cultivated flowers, he was probably referring to Malva sylvestris, a European native with handsome, hollyhock-like purplish-pink flowers. Some Charlottesville gardeners refer to it as "Baby Hollyhock" because of similarities to its more familiar mallow cousin; another common name is "Cheeses Mallow," a reference to the shape of the seed clusters.
Visit Monticello’s Online Shop to check for seeds or plants of French Mallow.
In Bloom at Monticello is made possible by support from The Richard D. and Carolyn W. Jacques Foundation.