Malva neglecta
Common mallow is an introduced plant that is common to much of the United States except for a few states in the Southeast (USDA, 2014). It is common to disturbed areas, gardens, and waste areas (Whitson, et al., 1999).
Common mallow is generally a short lived perennial. Depending on the variety flowers can have multiple colors but, the most common varieties are light purple or orange. Leaves have five to seven rounded lobes. Despite being diminutive in stature mallow produces a very stout root system, adding to its difficulty to control.
USDA, NRCS. 2014. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 18 March 2014). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Whitson, Tom D., et al. ‘Weeds of the West’ 5th ed. (1999), Western Society of Weed Science.