Wax Mallow
Malvaviscus arboreus var. mexicanus
- Habit
- Shrub
- Native to
- Central & South America
- Flowering
- March-July
How to identify Wax Mallow
Identify Wax Mallow by combining habit, leaf characters, flower or fruit details, location, and its family pattern. Do not rely on one feature alone.
- Look for a shrub habit.
- Confirm flower colour: Red.
- In season, compare flowering and fruiting time: March-July.
- Confirm it sits within the Malvaceae family pattern, then compare close relatives before deciding it is Wax Mallow.
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Malvaviscus arboreus var. mexicanus
- Genus
- Malvaviscus
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Habit
- Shrub
- Habitat
- Cultivated
- Habitat type
- Cultivated
- Native to
- Central & South America
- Flowering & fruiting
- March-July
- Conservation status
- NE
Leaf characters
- Arrangement
- Alternate
Typical of the Malvaceae family — a field-mark hint, not measured for this exact species.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower colour
- Redrecorded
Typical of the family
- Flower symmetry
- Actinomorphic (radially symmetrical)
- Inflorescence
- Solitary
- Fruit
- Capsule
Characters marked “recorded” are for Wax Mallow itself; the rest are typical of the Malvaceae family — flowering plants only.
Local Names
- Bengali
- লঙ্কা জবা
- Malayalam
- മൊട്ടുചെമ്പരത്തി
About Wax Mallow
Wax Mallow (Malvaviscus arboreus var. mexicanus) is a shrub in the Malvaceae family. It is native to Central & South America. It is cultivated. Flowering and fruiting run from March to July.
Malvaceae
Mallow/Hibiscus family
Wax Mallow belongs to the Malvaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
Explore the Malvaceae familySnap it. Know it.
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Common plant problems
If you are starting from symptoms instead of a diagnosis, use the plant disease symptom checker to narrow the cause before treating.
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