Published in the Contra Costa Times on December 24, 2005

Q. I would like to grow hollyhocks, but the ones I plant always get covered with rust and I have to take them out. Are there any resistant Hollyhocks?

A. Alcea rosea and a few close relatives are the old-fashioned cottage garden flower we call

Hollyhocks. Originating in the Mediterranean and Western Asia, they have been grown in the west since the mid 1500’s. Reaching 6-8’ ( 60-250cm) in height, hollyhocks are the backbone of many cut flower gardens and borders. The plants can spread to 24” ( 40-60cm) with large rough leaves that feel slightly prickly to the touch. The large, inviting blossoms are held up in large spikes.

Alcea
rosea

MALVACEAE

Common name
Bot. synonyms
Origin
Type
Habit
Height
Spread
Leaves
Flower
Colors
Utilization

Medicinal

Germination
Preculture
Direct seed
Season
Site
Soil

Hollyhock

Mediterranean, W.Asia (intr. 1573)
Biennial, some vars. flower first year
Tall, erect
60-250 cm/2-8'
40-60 cm/16-24"
Large, shallow-lobed, rough-hairy, rosette (1st year)
Long, racemose spike
Pink, purple, white, yellow shades, single or double
Border background, against walls, cut flower, typical English cottage garden plant
Flowers edible, close relative Althaea officinalis is an old medicinal plant

1-2 weeks, cool 10-12 C/50-55F
April, May in annual cultivation
June, July as biennial
June, Jul, Aug (HB), Aug, Sept (HHA)
Sun, sheltered
Loamy, moderately rich, well drained but not dry

Varieties: Suitable for annual culture: 'Annual Singles' (old-fashioned, single, early), 'Summer Carnival' (120-150 cm, early, double, red, rose, yellow, white). 'Majorette' (dwarf, 60-75 cm, 10 cm dbl flowers, rose crimson, lavender, pink, yellow, white shades), 'Powder Puffs' (semi-dwarf, large dbl flowers).

In my garden: I usually start annual hollyhocks at the end of April in a frost-proof greenhouse (10-12 C/50-55 F is OK). Plants are vigorous and they are grown in 8 cm pots until planted out in early June. In the first summer the plants do not reach their full spread, so I normally plant them about 30 cm apart. Don't let the soil dry out. Flowering starts quite late here, mostly in September. Hollyhocks make great cut flowers and the buds will open in water. My usual varieties are Annual singles and Summer Carnival. But my absolute favorite is var. nigra (actually very dark violet), which has flowered in my garden for three years now. I planted lots of these and also an old yellow-flowered species (from an Estonian botanical garden) in June 96. They have huge rosettes of leaves and will, hopefully, survive the winter and flower next summer. Hollyhocks (as biennials or perennials) are easily attacked by rust diseases, but I haven't had any problems so far. As a precaution you should not grow them in the same spot for more than 1-2 years. I don't use any fungicides.

Common name:	Hollyhock	Family:	Malvaceae
Author:	L.	Botanical references:	100, 200
Synonyms:	Althaea rosea ((L.)Cav.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	The original habitat is obscure, it is probably of hybrid origin. A garden escape in Britain[17].
Habitat:	Not known in a truly wild situation.
Plants For A Future Rating (1-5):	3

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	Althaea ficifolia[G]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Garden Hollyhock [H], Gul Hero [E], Gulhatmi [E], Hollyhock [B,H,L,P,MS], Jung K'Uei [E], Khatmah Barri [E], Malva Real [E], Shu K'Uei [E], Ward Al Khatmi [E], Wu K'Uei Hwa [E],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	rosea = rose colored;
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	Chile; China; Iraq; Kurdistan; Spain; Turkey