Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Hollyhock is a tall garden plant often grown along fences, with upright flower stalks usually 5–8 ft (1.5–2.4 m) tall. Its large, saucer-shaped flowers open from the bottom upward through summer and come in colors including white, pink, red, and yellow.

Appearance

Growth form: A tall, upright plant usually 5–8 ft (1.5–2.4 m) high and 1–2 ft (30–60 cm) wide. Usually a —leaves the first year, flowers the second—though it can act like an annual or short-lived perennial.
Leaves: Large, rough, heart-shaped leaves with shallow lobes.
Flowers: Big saucer-shaped flowers up to about 5 in (13 cm) across open up the stalk from bottom to top. Colors include white, pink, red, dark burgundy, purple, yellow, and orange, in single and double forms.
Flowering time: In North Carolina gardens, flowers can open from June through August.
Fruit: Flat, round wheels of seeds form after the flowers fade.

Look-alikes

Confederate roseHibiscus mutabilis

Confederate rose is a branching shrub with mostly solitary flowers, while hollyhock has a tall upright spike with flowers opening from the bottom upward.

Why they get mixed upBoth can have broad pink or white mallow flowers.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: Gardens
Fence lines
Range: Not native to North America; it was brought over as a garden plant and is grown in gardens across much of the US.
Preferred conditions: Likes full sun to light shade and moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Rated for 5–9.
Flowering: Flowers Jun–Aug
Flowers Jun–Aug

Growing it

Care: Grows readily from seed and often self-sows. can damage the leaves; removing infected leaves helps reduce it.
Propagation: Grown from seed; plants readily reseed themselves in the garden.

Name and classification

About the name: Once widely listed as Althaea rosea.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
Threats: Hollyhock rust can spot and damage the leaves.

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