A heirloom Hollyhock with single flowers in white, rose or pink.
Pronunciation
(al-SEE-a)(Ro-see-a)
Plant Type
All Plants, Biennials
Hardiness Zone
4-9
Sunlight
full sun
Moisture
average, avoid water on the leaves
Soil & Site
average
Flowers
single white, rose or pink, occur in terminal racemes
Leaves
Leaves are lobed and rough textured. The nemesis of this plant is Hollyhock rust, a leaf disfiguring fungus. Newer varieties are reported to be more resistant.
Stems
bristly, single, unbranched
Dimensions
5 feet
Maintenance
In the fall remove all dead plant parts and discard. These will carry over the rust spores. The rust is caused by Puccinia malvacearum, a fungus attacking the Malvaceae family. Stalking maybe needed
Propagation
They are easily grown from seed but will take two years to flower. First year the plant will grow vegetatively and the next year flower, than die. Many times succeeding generations will come from the seeds that fall too the ground.
Native Site
China
Cultivar Origin
Species native to China and has been grown there for perhaps 2 thousand years. Introduced into England in the 1600's.
Author's Notes
Hollyhock is a good indicator plant for "days gone by". It is a given if Hollyhock and or Lilac are growing in an old field there was once a house near by.
Notes & Reference
#28-Cottage Garden Annuals(Clive Lane), #51-Armitage's Manual of Annuals, Biennials, and Half-Hardy Perennials (Alan Arimitage), #109-Annuals and Tender Perennials for North American Gardens (Wayne Winterrowd)