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
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Alcea rosea, or Hollyhocks, are herbaceous flowering plants that reseed themselves and can produce colonies of plants that return in the garden year after year. They are typically found in cultivated areas and rarely in "the wild". Their original habitat is unknown, but the plant is probably a cultigen that started out in Turkey. Note that it is sometimes listed in nursery catalogs under Althaea.
The plant prefers full to partial sun, a heavy, rich, organic soil and seeds, sown in late summer or early fall, will flower the following summer. The plant tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and some light shade, but will not tolerate wet winter soils. Considered a biennial or short-lived perennial. It is a very ornamental plant and the flowers come in a number of various colors, from lavender to red to yellow, and resemble Papaver somniferum (poppies). The flowers grow on rigid, towering spikes of 5 to 8 feet tall and usually do not require staking. The plant has a long bloom period of June to August.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
Often grown as a biennial because it is susceptible to rust, leaf spot, and anthracnose. Slugs, spider mites, and Japanese Beetles can also be a problem. Lower leaves wither away during hot dry weather.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Backyard Respite Landscape
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- '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):
- Can be used as a showy edible garnish or a container for dip. Flowers may be used to make a dye.
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Turkey
- Distribution:
- Eastern and Central Canada, and throughout the continental United States.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- 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
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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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
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Description:
- Each flower is replaced by a fruit containing a ring of 15-20 seeds (technically, a schizocarp). These seeds are oval, flattened, and notched on one side.
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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:
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- The central stem terminates in a spike-like raceme of flowers; axillary flowers are produced from the axils of the upper leaves as well. These flowers occur individually or in small clusters along the central stem; they nod sideways from short hairy pedicels. Each flower spans about 3-5" when it is fully open. The overlapping petals are usually some shade of white, pink, or purplish red. The sepals are light green, ovate, and much smaller than the petals. The bracts of each flower are located underneath the sepals; they are light green, hairy, ovate, and joined together at the base. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer into the fall; a colony of plants will bloom for about 2 months.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Orbicular
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are up to 8" long and across; they are palmately lobed (with 3-7 blunt lobes each) and crenate along their margins. Each leaf blade is orbicular or oval in outline and indented at the base. The upper surface of each leaf blade is slightly pubescent to hairless, and wrinkled from fine veins; the lower surface is light green and pubescent.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stout central stem is unbranched or sparingly branched; it is light green, terete, and more or less hairy.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Rabbits
