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Perennials > Alcea > Alcea rosea > Alcea rosea

Alcea rosea


Common Hollyhock, 蜀葵 shu kui (Chinese)




Origin:  Originally from southwestern Asia (China) and the Balkans and thought to have been introduced into western Europe in the 15th century. It is now widespread and frequently found in most of the temperate northern hemisphere where in some cases it has escaped garden cultivation and is naturalized. It is not currently known to exist in any wild populations.
Family
Malvaceae
Genus
Alcea
Species
rosea
Category
Perennials
Synonyms
Althaea rosea
Pronunciation
USDA Hardiness Zone
2 - 10
RHS Hardiness Zone
H5
Temperature (°C)
-15 - (-10)
Height
1.5 - 2.5 m
Spread
0.5 - 1 m
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
MayJuneJulyAugustSeptember
General Description
Genus name is the Latin name from the Greek word alkaia for a kind of mallow.
Landscape
Flowers border/beds, wall-side borders, cottages and informal gardens.
Cultivation
Full sun and partial-shade. Well-drained, chalk, sand or loam with a neutral, acid or alkaline pH. Avoid the use of overhead watering.
Growth
Fast
Pests
Slugs, caterpillars and flea beetles when young growth. Susceptible to rust, leaf spot and anthracnose. Spider mites and Japanese beetles can be a problem.
Leaf Description
Large, heart-shaped leaves that have 3 - 7 lobes and gets progressively smaller towards the top of the spire. Rigid, towering spikes or spires that reach a height of 1 - 2.5 m tall.
Flower Description
Showy funnel-shapped flowers. Tall and erect racemes in summer. 10 - 12 cm in diameter, outward-facing, single flowers.
Colour Description
Flowers are a purplish-pink, reddish-white or yellow in colour. The leaves are green in colour.
Texture Description
The leaves are rough in texture.
Notable Specimens
Kincarden, Ontario, Canada.
Propagation
Seed. Sown in gentle hear in mid-winter or in-situ in spring.
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