Alcea (Malvaceae)
Hollyhocks are one of the best known and best loved perennial plants. Often thought of as biennials, most are more truly short lived perennials, with some modern crosses living up to 7 years. Their continued presence owes to reseeded plants mixing in, creating an overlap, with plants popping up here and there through the generations. We have grown 5 species with an emphasis on single flowers, good disease resistance, and more long lived plants. The most common disease is rust, a kind of fungus it is prone to in our cool, damp climate. A sunny location and something like a fence to lean on will help.
As they are short lived, we sell first year plants in 3” pots. We find this is the best way to establish them.
AVAILABLE THIS YEAR
A. ficifolia ‘Happy Lights’ fig leafed species, related to Russian, bred for disease resistance and good color mix.
A. pallida - Turkish hollyhock, rare species. Simple pale pink, scalloped flowers. Long lived and disease resistant.
A. rugosa - Russian origin, very hardy and long lived. Clear single yellow flowers, excellent rust resistance.
Hollyhocks are one of the best known and best loved perennial plants. Often thought of as biennials, most are more truly short lived perennials, with some modern crosses living up to 7 years. Their continued presence owes to reseeded plants mixing in, creating an overlap, with plants popping up here and there through the generations. We have grown 5 species with an emphasis on single flowers, good disease resistance, and more long lived plants. The most common disease is rust, a kind of fungus it is prone to in our cool, damp climate. A sunny location and something like a fence to lean on will help.
As they are short lived, we sell first year plants in 3” pots. We find this is the best way to establish them.
AVAILABLE THIS YEAR
A. ficifolia ‘Happy Lights’ fig leafed species, related to Russian, bred for disease resistance and good color mix.
A. pallida - Turkish hollyhock, rare species. Simple pale pink, scalloped flowers. Long lived and disease resistant.
A. rugosa - Russian origin, very hardy and long lived. Clear single yellow flowers, excellent rust resistance.
Hollyhocks are one of the best known and best loved perennial plants. Often thought of as biennials, most are more truly short lived perennials, with some modern crosses living up to 7 years. Their continued presence owes to reseeded plants mixing in, creating an overlap, with plants popping up here and there through the generations. We have grown 5 species with an emphasis on single flowers, good disease resistance, and more long lived plants. The most common disease is rust, a kind of fungus it is prone to in our cool, damp climate. A sunny location and something like a fence to lean on will help.
As they are short lived, we sell first year plants in 3” pots. We find this is the best way to establish them.
AVAILABLE THIS YEAR
A. ficifolia ‘Happy Lights’ fig leafed species, related to Russian, bred for disease resistance and good color mix.
A. pallida - Turkish hollyhock, rare species. Simple pale pink, scalloped flowers. Long lived and disease resistant.
A. rugosa - Russian origin, very hardy and long lived. Clear single yellow flowers, excellent rust resistance.