Marshmallow

Quick facts Prefers shade Perfect for low lying moist areas Numerous medicinal uses Althaea officinalis Easy to grow perennial medicinal herb, plants grow four feet tall with 3” white flowers which are very attractive to bees. Best in partial shade in damper areas of the garden.  Our marshmallow patch receives morning sun and afternoon shade which seems to quite it perfects. Flowers, leaves, roots, and seeds are all edible and used in soothing teas, and for the traditional preparation of marshmallow candies. Traditional folk medicine uses include digging the roots and drying for storage.  Roots can be dug anytime, but are largest in midsummer before the plant flowers and goes to seed in the late summer.  Dried roots have a multitude of uses- including as a throat lozenge sucked on with honey.  A mucilaginous cold soaked tea can be made of the roots which coats and soothes the digestive system. When mixed with honey and licorice, the root tea can also be very soothing for sore th