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hollyhock
Scientific Name: Alcea rosea
Family: Malvaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Biennial, Perennial
Other Names:
Hollyhock: A Cottage Garden Classic
Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) are a beloved addition to many gardens, particularly those aiming for a traditional cottage garden aesthetic. Their impressive height and colorful blooms make them a striking feature.
Considerations for Pets
- Tortoises are noted to enjoy consuming hollyhock flowers and may eat the plant to the ground if it is not protected in their enclosure.
Scientific Classification
- Scientific Name: Alcea rosea
- Common Name: Hollyhock
- Genus: Alcea
- Family: Malvaceae (mallow family)
- Synonym: Althaea rosea
Distribution and Habitat
Hollyhocks are native to Asia and Europe and are commonly found in gardens, especially those designed in a cottage style.
Morphology and Growth
- Hollyhocks are known for their tall flower stalks, which can reach heights of up to 9 feet (approximately 2.7 meters), and even up to 13ft.
- They are generally considered biennials, growing leaves in the first year and flowering, seeding, and dying in the second. However, some varieties are short-lived perennials.
- Flowers can be single or double, depending on the variety, and come in a wide array of colors.
Quirky Facts
- The name "hollyhock" is translated as "holy mallow," and the plant was reportedly brought to gardens from the Holy Land by Crusaders.
- Hollyhocks are so closely associated with the cottage garden style that they can be considered "by the book" or essential for that particular garden aesthetic.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- The hollyhock weevil (Rhopalapion longirostre) is known to affect this plant.
- The Seed Moth Pexicopia malvella can also be found.
Additional Information
- The RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) provides information and assistance regarding Alcea rosea.