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Native Plants Journal 6.3 (2005) 245-246


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Propagation protocol for Virginia Saltmarsh Mallow Kosteletzkya virginica

David C Ingersoll

Horticulturist
Mellow Marsh Farm
Siler City, NC 27344-7081
mellowmarsh@mindspring.com
www.mellowmarshfarm.com

Sharon L Day

Owner
Mellow Marsh Farm
Siler City, NC 27344-7081
mellowmarsh@mindspring.com
www.mellowmarshfarm.com
Keywords
Malvaceae, marsh mallow, propagation
Nomenclature
USDA NRCS (2005)

Kosteletzkya virginica (L.) K. Presl ex Grayis an obligate wetland species native to the southeastern US. It is generally considered to be a coastal plain species but also occurs randomly in the Piedmont of North Carolina. It is found as far north as Long Island, New York, south into Florida, and along the coastal plain into east Texas (Godfrey and Wooten 1981). While K. virginica grows mainly in fresh, brackish, and tidal marshes, it can also be found in wet ditches, sloughs, and along edges of wetlands. It tolerates salty marshes and salt spray but grows well in freshwater in the nursery.


Click for larger view		 Figure 1
Photos by Joanie McLean

Kosteletzkya virginica is a member of the Malvaceae or mallow family. The genus name, Kosteletzkya, honors bohe-mian botanist Vincenz Franz Kosteletzky. A European relative of K. virginica, Al-thaea officinalis, also called marsh mallow, has become somewhat naturalized in parts of the US (Gould and others 2000). Its roots were the original source of marshmallow candy and are still eaten in parts of the world, but they are no longer used to make marshmallows. The genus Kosteletzkya has about 30 species worldwide, but only K. virginica and K. depressa (L.) O.J. Blanchard, Fryxell & Bates are native to the US; the latter occurs only in Florida and Texas and is state listed as endangered in Florida (CGO 2004). Synonyms for K. virginica include K. althaeifolia (Chapman) Rusby, K. smilacifolia Gray, K. virginica (L.) K. Presl ex Gray var. althaeifolia Chapman, and K. virginica (L.) K. Presl ex Gray var. aquilonia Fern.

Natural History

Kosteletzkya virginica is a stout perennial with one to several stems arising from the base. Great variation in leaf shape and size, flower size and color, and density of pubescence occurs among plants in this species. Several varieties have been identified, but because of hybridizing in the wild and variation in individual plants, the varieties have not been widely accepted.

Kosteletzkya virginica grows as a single plant, not spreading vegetatively to form colonies (Gould and others 2000). This mallow grows to a height of 0.5 to 2.5 m (20 to 100 in) in a growing season (Godfrey and Wooten 1981). Aboveground stems die back but persist throughout winter. All parts of the plant are covered with tiny stellate hairs that can make the plant painfully scratchy or soft and velvety. Commonly, leaves are larger and three-lobed below the midstem, and much smaller linear or lanceolate above the midstem, though leaf shape and size can be quite variable. Leaf length varies from 2 to 15 cm (0.8 to 6 in); margins are irregularly toothed. Some leaves have short petioles while others are sessile.

Flowers are from 4 to 8 cm (1.6 to 3.2 in) wide, and are either solitary, borne in leaf axils, or borne in panicles. Petals are usually pink but rarely are purplish or even white with bright yellow stamens and pistil. Blooms are nearly constant from July to October in central North Carolina. Self-pollination is likely because of close proximity of anthers and pistil and a short bloom time of just 1 d per flower. Seeds form in pubescent, five-chambered capsules 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 in) wide that dehisce at maturity in early to late fall. Each chamber of the capsule contains a single smooth, brown seed, rounded on one side and angled on the other.

Current Uses

Kosteletzkya virginica is a somewhat salt tolerant (up to 10 ppt; Thunhorst 1993), hardy perennial herb that performs well in salt marsh and freshwater restoration and mitigation projects as [End Page 245] well as in storm...

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