Alcea rosea

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Alcea rosea
Alcea rosea purple.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Alcea
Species:
A. rosea
Binomial name
Alcea rosea
Synonyms [1]
List
  • Althaea rosea (L.) Cav.
  • Alcea annua Winterl
  • Alcea cretica (Weinm.) Greuter
  • Alcea microchiton Alef.
  • Althaea caribaea Sims
  • Althaea chinensis Wall.
  • Althaea coromandeliana Cav.
  • Althaea cretica Weinm.
  • Althaea flexuosa Sims
  • Althaea meonantha Link
  • Althaea mexicana Kunze
  • Althaea microchiton (Alef.) Baker f.
  • Althaea sinensis Cav.
  • Malva florida Salisb.
  • Malva hortensus K.F.Schimp. & Spenn.

Alcea rosea, the common hollyhock, is an ornamental dicot flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It was imported into Europe from southwestern China during, or possibly before, the 15th century. [2] William Turner, a herbalist of the time, gave it the name "holyoke" from which the English name derives.

Contents

Cultivation

Illustration, 1897 Althaea rosea (Kohler).jpg
Illustration, 1897

Alcea rosea is variously described as a biennial (having a two-year life cycle), as an annual, or as a short-lived perennial. [3] [4] [5] It frequently self-sows, which may create a perception that the plants are perennial. [3] The plant may flower during its first year when sown early. [4] It will grow in a wide range of soils, and can easily reach a height of 8 ft (2.4 m)

The flowers are in a range of colours from white to dark red, including pink, yellow and orange. Different colours prefer different soils. The darker red variety seems to favour sandy soils, while the lighter colour seems to favour clay soils.[ citation needed ] The plants are easily grown from seed, and readily self-seed. However, tender plants, whether young from seed or from old stock, may be wiped out by slugs and snails. The foliage is subject to attack from rust (fungus), which may be treated with fungicides. [6] Commercial growers have reported that some closely related species ( Alcea rugosa and Alcea ficifolia ) are resistant to this fungus. [7]

Properties

Growing up to 8 feet tall, this plant usually does not require staking, producing large flowers around 5 inches in diameter. Its leaves are large and heart-shaped. The flowers attract hummingbirds in the Americas, and butterflies. [8]

Pests and diseases

The leaves are vulnerable to rust, leaf spot and anthracnose. Pest problems include Japanese beetle and spider mites. Though damage to the leaves can be extensive, the flowers are rarely affected. [8]

Herbalism

In herbal medicine, hollyhock is believed to be an emollient and laxative. It is used to control inflammation, to stop bedwetting and as a mouthwash in cases of bleeding gums. [9]

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<i>Malva moschata</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Malva alcea</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Astragalus bisulcatus</i> Species of plant

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<i>Malva preissiana</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Liriope spicata</i> Species of flowering plant

Liriope spicata is a species of low, herbaceous flowering plant from East Asia. Common names include creeping lilyturf, creeping liriope, lilyturf, and monkey grass. This perennial has grass-like evergreen foliage and is commonly used in landscaping in temperate climates as groundcover. Creeping lilyturf has white to lavender flowers which produce single-seeded berries on a spike in the fall. It is one of the most popular groundcovers in the southeastern United States and areas with a similar climate.

<i>Liriope muscari</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Puccinia malvacearum</i> Species of fungus

Puccinia malvacearum, also known as hollyhock or mallow rust, is a fungal species within the genus Puccinia known for attacking members of the family Malvaceae. An autoecious pathogen, it can complete its life cycle using a single host.

<i>Paeonia tenuifolia</i> Species of plant

Paeonia tenuifolia is a herbaceous species of peony that is called the steppe peony or the fern leaf peony. It is native to the Caucasus Mountains, with large fields found in Vashlivani National Park in Georgia and the Black Sea coast of Ukraine, spreading westward into Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia and eastward to northwestern Kazakhstan. It was described by Linnaeus in 1759. The leaves are finely divided into almost thread-like segments and grow close together on the stems. This peony can reach 30–60 cm (12–24 in) in height. The scented red flowers have numerous yellow stamens in the centre.

<i>Alcea setosa</i> Species of plant in the family Malvaceae

Alcea setosa, the bristly hollyhock, is an ornamental plant in the family Malvaceae.

<i>Rubus tricolor</i> Species of evergreen prostrate shrub native to southwestern China

Rubus tricolor is an evergreen prostrate shrub, native to southwestern China. Leaves are dark green above, pale green below, and stems have red bristles. It has white flowers in summer and edible red fruit. It grows approximately 0.3 m (0.98 ft) high and usually forming a vigorously spreading, dense mat. In cultivation, it is mainly used as groundcover. Common names include Chinese bramble, groundcover bramble, creeping bramble, Korean raspberry, Himalayan bramble, and groundcover raspberry. In Chinese, it is called 三色莓.

<i>Alcea rugosa</i> Species of plant in family Malvaceae

Alcea rugosa, the Russian hollyhock, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It is native to Ukraine, Crimea, south European Russia, and the Caucasus, and has been introduced as a garden escapee into Wisconsin and Maryland in the United States. It is resistant to Puccinia malvacearum rust, and hardy to USDA zone 4.

<i>Alcea digitata</i> Species of flowering plant

Alcea digitata, the fingered hollyhock, is a tall hollyhock with large flowers native to the Middle East.

References

  1. 1 2 "Alcea rosea L." Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  2. "Flora of China 12: 267–268. 2007" (PDF). Harvard University . Retrieved 2011-07-21.
  3. 1 2 "Hollyhock". Cornell University . Retrieved 2011-07-21.
  4. 1 2 "Annual - Hollyhock - Althaea rosea". University of Illinois . Retrieved 2011-07-21.
  5. "Plant of the Month - Hollyhocks" (PDF). New Mexico State University Master Gardener Newsletter. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
  6. "Hollyhock rust". Cornell University. Archived from the original on 22 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  7. "Yard & Garden Line News". University of Minnesota Extension. 2005-06-15. Archived from the original on 2010-03-22. Retrieved 2010-02-05.
  8. 1 2 "Alcea rosea (single)". missouribotanicalgarden.org. Missouri Botanical Garden . Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  9. Howard, Michael. Traditional Folk Remedies (Century, 1987) p.155