Althaea cannabina
a perennial member of the Althaea genus in the family Malvaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A fibre obtained from the stem is used for making fine fabrics and paper[1][5]. It is brittle and tears easily[5].
- Product or use
- Fibre
Environment
- Range
- Europe - S. France.
- Habitat
- Cultivated ground and waste places[2].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 4+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame. Germination usually takes place within a few weeks. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions during the summer. Division in spring or autumn. Fairly easy, it is best to pot up the divisions in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing away well and then plant them out into their permanent positions.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in almost any soil[1][3]. Prefers a rich moist soil in a sunny position[3]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[4]. This species is occasionally cultivated for the fibre in its stems[1].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00