Dwarf Mallow (Malva neglecta) is in the Mallow and Hibiscus Family family (Malvaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,381 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to October, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Dwarf Mallow: observations by month (U.S.)
About Dwarf Mallow
Malva neglecta is an annual growing to 0.6 m (2ft). It is also known as common mallow in the United States and also buttonweed, cheeseplant, cheeseweed, dwarf mallow and roundleaf mallow. Although often considered a weed, this plant is often consumed as a food. This is especially true of the seeds, which contain 21% protein and 15.2% fat. The plant is an invasive species in the United States.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Dwarf Mallow by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 284 | June | May–Jun |
| California | 196 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Colorado | 113 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Oregon | 99 | August | Apr–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 97 | May | May–Jul |
| Washington | 89 | July | May–Oct |
| Michigan | 58 | June | May–Sep |
| Utah | 53 | June | Apr–Nov |
| New Jersey | 50 | June | May–Jun |
| Idaho | 36 | September | May–Oct |
| Ohio | 31 | August | May–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 24 | June | May–Jul |
| Nevada | 24 | June | May–Aug |
| Illinois | 23 | May | May–Jul |
| Kentucky | 23 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Maryland | 23 | May | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 23 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Indiana | 20 | May | May–Sep |
| New Mexico | 20 | June | Apr–Aug |
| Vermont | 19 | June | May–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 16 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arizona | 11 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 9 | September | Sep–Sep |
| West Virginia | 6 | May | May–May |
| New Hampshire | 5 | June | Jun–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Mallow and Hibiscus Family)
Checkerbloom
Swamp Rose Mallow
Turk's cap
Apricot Globemallow
Cretan mallow
Southern Coastal Bushmallow
Common Hibiscus
Cheeseweed Mallow
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Dwarf Mallow?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from May to October.
Where is Dwarf Mallow most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, California, Colorado.