Common Mallow

Malva neglecta

Weed Description
A winter or summer annual or biennial, freely branching at the base, with a prostrate growth habit. Found throughout the United States, more common in turfgrass, landscapes, and nursery crops.

Seedlings
Cotyledons are heart-shaped, 5-7 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, with 3 main veins, hairy. Alternate young leaves, crinkled, circular with toothed margins, and hairy on both surfaces.

Leaves
Alternate, on long petioles, circular to kidney-shaped, toothed and shallowly 5-9 lobed, 2-6 cm wide. Short hairs present on upper and lower leaf surfaces, margins and petioles.

Stems
Freely branching at the base, lying close to the soil surface, nearly erect or spreading with tips turned up (decumbent).

Flowers
Single or in clusters of 2-4 in leaf axils. Petals white or tinged with pink or purple.

Fruit
Flattened, round, disc-like, composed of 12-15 small hairy, 1-seeded segments, 5 to 8 mm in diameter, resembling a button in appearance.

Roots
Short, straight-taproot.

Identifying Characteristics
Fruit disc-like, resembling a button. Leaves circular, toothed, and long petioled. This weed is often confused with Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea). However, ground ivy leaves are opposite, and have much more prominent rounded teeth. Ground ivy also has square stems and may emit a minty odor.

Office of Programs

University of Missouri

Common Mallow

Malva neglecta