Venice mallow is a summer annual. It was introduced from Europe
where it was grown as an ornamental. Venice mallow has an
upright growth habit and can reach 10- to 18-inches in height.
The stems are erect, covered with hairs and branch from the
base. The leaves are deeply cleft into 3 to 5 coarsely toothed
lobes and form on long petioles. The lower stems and petioles
can be a red to purple in color. Venice mallow has a fibrous
root system with a weak taproot. The flower of Venice mallow is
very showy and are a light sulfur-yellow color with a deep red
to purple center. Venice mallow is nicknamed "flower-of-an-hour"
because flowers will only last several hours before the petals
drop. Venice mallow spreads by seed. The seeds can lay dormant
for up to 50 years. Venice mallow is found throughout United
States. Venice mallow can infest nurseries, orchards, gardens,
roadsides, cultivated fields and open waste areas. Venice mallow
tolerates drought and gravely soils. It is also noted to
tolerate alkaline soils. Due