Description

Venice mallow is a summer annual. It was introduced from Europe where it was grown as an ornamental. Venice mallow has an upright growth habit and can reach 10- to 18-inches in height. The stems are erect, covered with hairs and branch from the base. The leaves are deeply cleft into 3 to 5 coarsely toothed lobes and form on long petioles. The lower stems and petioles can be a red to purple in color. Venice mallow has a fibrous root system with a weak taproot. The flower of Venice mallow is very showy and are a light sulfur-yellow color with a deep red to purple center. Venice mallow is nicknamed "flower-of-an-hour" because flowers will only last several hours before the petals drop. Venice mallow spreads by seed. The seeds can lay dormant for up to 50 years. Venice mallow is found throughout United States.