DJ's Growers (www.djsgrowers.com.au) provides the following information on Marshmallow.
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| Marshmallow - Causing you trouble? Contact DJ's for more information. www.djsgrowers.com.au (c) James Hook |
Marshmallow
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Malva parviflora |
What is it?
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Marshmallow, Malva
parviflora is an exotic annual weed that is active after
autumn and winter rains.
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What does it look like?
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Leaves : Rounded and
wrinkled, 17 – 100 mm in diameter, with prominent veins and have 5 – 7
shallow lobes, toothed margins, notched bases and are borne on green to
purple/green stalks that are sometimes up to 24 cm long.
Growth: Woody with spreading and upright branches 30 - 100 cm high with stems covered in stiff hairs. Plants are initial semi-prostrate, but become more erect with maturity. Flowers: Pale pink to white hibiscus-like flowers with five petals are 4 - 6 mm long, and are in small clusters of 2 - 5 in the leaf forks, on stalks 7 – 22 mm long. Seed s: The seeds are red/brown and rounded, 1 – 2 mm in diameter. |
When does it grow?
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Winter Active: An
annual weed that emerge after rainfall or irrigation in late autumn and
winter. Plants grow quickly throughout winter and spring and flower during
spring and summer (7 – 13 weeks after emergence).
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Where does it grow?
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Found in
all districts of McLaren Vale.This plant is also widespread weed of
wasteland, degraded pasture, roadsides, along watercourses and in gardens.
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Why is it a problem?
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Competes with
grapevines for nutrients and It tolerates a wide range of herbicides
including glyphosate and can be a host of many insects pests including light brown apple moth.
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How does it spread?
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Seed can be set within two weeks
of flowering. April to November in SA.The seed has strong dormancy with very little fresh
seed germinating, but only a short seed-bank life with only 25% of seed
remaining viable after one year of burial and less than 12% after two years.
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How is it controlled?
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Biological Control: Vegetable weevil often decimates
dense stands. Stock can also graze marshmallow.
Conventional
Control: Manual
removal, particularly whilst plants are young, is effective. Mulching is an
excellent method to prevent germinating seeds from establishing. Cultivation
may be useful as the plant’s shallow root system is easily dislodged from the
soil and the plant quickly dries out in warm weather.
Herbicide Control: No known
resistance to herbicide however weed populations can build up over several
seasons. Marshmallow control has historically centred on Glyphosate and the
addition of a spike product. These herbicides aid in the desiccation of the
plant but are only completely successful on very small weeds.
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How do I find out more?
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