A selection from an unpublished manuscript, Ancient Garden Plants and Modern Garden Plants

by James K. Sayre

Copyright, 2003. All Rights Reserved.

Hollyhock - Althaea rosea (Alcea rosea) - family: Malvaceae (Mallow Family).

[Etymology: hollyhock Middle English holihoc, literally, "holy hoc," holi, holy + hoc, mallow, Old English halig, holy + hoc, mallow].

This striking garden plant is a biennial or perennial that grows up to ten feet high. It has large lobed heart-to-rounded-shaped leaves and in the summer and fall it produces long stalks of open flowers of white, purple, pink or yellow. It has many cultivars that feature doubled flowers in a variety of colors. It is no longer found growing in a wild state. A tea made from Hollyhock leaves is a traditional European folk remedy for coughs. Traditional European folk use of flowers as an internal remedy for coughs and urinary tract infections and as a gargle for sore throats. Similar to the Marsh Mallow, Althaea officinalis, in its herbal properties, although the latter is more effective medicinally. Native to Asia and Asia Minor. Naturalized in the United States. Naturalized in California. Cultivated as an ornamental in North America. Many cultivars exist. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 3-10 in North America.

Other names: Althea Rose, Garden Hollyhock, Holyoke, Jagged Mallow, Malva Flowers, Rose Mallow, Purple Malva, Shu Kui.

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Web page last updated on 27 June 2003.