Hollyhock
Alcea rosea

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A short lived perennial plant. It grows for about 2 years. It grows 1.5-2.5 m high and spreading to 60 cm wide. The stem is erect, leafy and flowering. The leaf stalks are 5-15 cm long. The leaf blade is nearly round and 6-16 cm across. There are 5-7 lobes arranged like fingers on a hand. The lobes are triangular. The flowers are in the axils of leaves. They are bowl shaped. The petals are crinkled. Flowers are red, purple, pink, white, yellow and black and 6-10 cm across.

There are about 60 Alcea species. This one is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. Plants are frost hardy. Plants can tolerate temperatures down to about -15°C. It grows best in a sheltered sunny position and in a heavy rich soil. It will grow in most soils. It is resistant to frost but sensitive to drought. The soil should be well drained. It suits hardiness zones 3-10. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Central Asia, Chile, China, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indochina, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kurdistan, Laos, Libya, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Oman, Pakistan, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, SE Asia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Thailand, Tibet, Trinidad-Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Indies, Winward Is., Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves are eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are used for sarma in Turkey. They are rolled around a filling of rice or minced meat. The inner portion of the young stems is eaten raw. The flowers buds and petals are added raw to salads. An edible starch can be made from the root. The flower petals can be used for tea. They are also boiled in water to make sweet juice.

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, roots, stem

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed, division of the clump or by cuttings. Seeds germinate in 2-3 weeks at 20°C. To avoid frosts seeds are sown indoors 8 weeks before the last frost. The seed are sown 6 mm deep. It should be pruned back after flowering.

Its other names

Local names

Dulhatma, Malva real, Malvavisco, Mandinhhong, Rožlin, Rubeerwa, Shu kui, Sichuan Kui, Thucquy

Synonyms

Alcea biennis Winteri; Alcea ficifolia Nyman; Althaea caribea Sims; Althaea chinensis Wall.; Althaea rosea (L.) Cav.; and others