What does mallow mean?
Mallow is a common name for plants in the mallow family, particularly common mallow, a familiar perennial with rounded leaves and purple or pink flowers, and marsh mallow, a related species found in damp habitats. The word is used in botanical, gardening, and culinary contexts, and the leaves and flowers of common mallow have a long history in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking. Marsh mallow has a second, more specialized significance: its root was historically processed into a sweet confection that eventually gave its name to marshmallow. In ordinary modern English, however, “mallow” generally refers to the plant rather than the confection. The word is useful because it connects everyday botany and food history with the origin of a familiar sweet. It also illustrates how ordinary garden plants can acquire surprising cultural importance through traditional uses and later commercial production.
nounA plant of the mallow family (Malvaceae), especially common mallow (Malva sylvestris); the name can also refer to marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis), a related plant whose root was historically used to make marshmallow.
- Any plant belonging to the mallow family, especially common mallow (Malva sylvestris) or the related marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis).
"Mallow grew along the riverbank, its purple flowers opening in the summer sun."
"The gardener cleared a border where mallow had spread between the roses."
"The leaves and flowers of common mallow have long been used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking."
The plural is used when referring to several plants of the mallow family or to multiple individual mallow plants.
"Several mallows grew along the edge of the vegetable garden."
The humble mallow plant is the botanical ancestor of the fluffy marshmallow, linking a roadside weed to one of the world's favorite sweets.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mallow come from?
The English word descends from Old English mealwe, an old name for plants now called mallows. Medieval Latin borrowed the term as malva from Greek malakē, the Greek word for mallow. The same Latin root also underlies the French-derived color term mauve, the wine term malvasia, and the botanical genus name Malva.
How mallow is actually used
The word is neutral and botanical, but “common mallow” and “marsh mallow” are more precise when a particular species is intended. It is not normally used to refer to the confection; that is “marshmallow.”
Easily confused with mallow
Mallow is the name of a plant, whereas marshmallow is the confection traditionally made from the marsh mallow plant's root and now commonly made from other ingredients.