Scientific Name:
Alcea rosea
Pronunciation:
al-SEE-uh ROE-zee-uh
Common Name:
hollyhock
Family Name:
Malvaceae
Plant Type:
Annual, Biennial
Key ID Features:
Leaves heart shaped, most with with 3, 5, or 7 lobes, up to 20cm long; florets on a rigid raceme with leaf-like bracts up to 2m tall.
Habit:
Stiffly upright
Form:
Pyramidal - narrowly
Texture:
Very coarse
Mature Height:
1.3 - 2.0m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
S.E. Asia / Japan / China (China)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Humus rich, Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Attract beneficial insects, Medicinal plant, Perennial border
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple, Lobed
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Pubescent
Colour in Fall:
Yellow, Brown
Shapes:
Orbicular, Ovate
Apices:
Obtuse
Bases:
Cordate
Margins:
Serrate
Inflorescence Type:
Raceme
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Funnelform
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White, Yellow, Purple, Pink, Red
Flower Time at Peak:
Jul, Aug
Fruit Type:
Schizocarp
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Aug, Sep
Additional Info:
Mericarps (over 15) each contain a single seed
Bark Morphology:
Smooth
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Pest Susceptibility:
Mites, Rust (Rabbit resistant)
Specific Pests:
Best to grow as annual to limit spread of hollyhock rust
