Alcea rosea
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Althaea mexicana Kunze
- Althaea rosea (L.) Cav.
- Althaea sinensis Cav.
- Phonetic Spelling
- al-SEE-ah RO-see-ah
- Description
-
Hollyhock is a herbaceous biennial to annual flowering plant in the mallow family (Malvaceae) and is thought to be native to Turkey and western Asia. The Genus name is the Latin name from the Greek word alkaia for a kind of mallow. The specific epithet means pink.
The plant prefers full sun to light shade in moist well-drained sandy to clay loams rich in organic matter. They will grow 5 to 8 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. The plant readily reseeds in the garden, providing plants year after year.
The large ornamental flowers come in shades of purple, red and yellow and grow on rigid, towering spikes that do not require staking. The plant has a long bloom period from June to August. The round to oval leaves are up to 8 inches long and wide but susceptible to diseases and pests and may wither in the summer heat.
Use hollyhocks in groups or borders in pollinator, cottage and English gardens.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to rust, leaf spot, and anthracnose. Slugs, spider mites, and Japanese Beetles can also be a problem. It will escape the garden but rarely lasts long in the wild.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Backyard Respite Landscape
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Nigra'
Classic hollyhock whose deep maroon blooms look almost black.
- 'Nigra'
- 'Nigra'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Nigra'
Classic hollyhock whose deep maroon blooms look almost black.
- 'Nigra'
- 'Nigra'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Alcea
- Species:
- A. rosea
- Family:
- Malvaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Flowers may be used to make a dye. The plant has been used medicinally.
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Turkey and western Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Attacts bees, butterflies and hummingbird.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edibility:
- Can be used as a showy edible garnish or a container for dip.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Description:
- The schizocarp contains oval, flattened, and notched seeds that readily germinate.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- The 4 to 5-inch funnel or cup-shaped flowers appear on a tall spike in terminal raceme. The colors vary from shades of red, yellow and purple, have 5 petals, 5 sepals, 6-9 sepal-like bracts and bloom June to August.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Orbicular
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The large green leaves are up to 8 inches wide and long with toothed margins and 3 to 7 lobes. The upper surface appears wrinkled due to fine veins. The undersurface is hairy and light green. The leaves get smaller as they ascend the stems. T
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The flowering stem is rigid, hairy and mostly unbranched.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- English Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Rabbits
