Alcea (Malvaceae) - Hollyhocks

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. This year we have 5 species with an emphasis on older, single flowers, good disease resistance, and more long lived plants.

Ficifolia - “Happy Lights’  fig leafed species, related to Russian, bred for disease resistance and good color mix.   

Pallida - Turkish hollyhock, rare species. Simple pale pink, scalloped flowers. Long lived and disease resistant.

Rosea - ‘Nigra’ The famous dark red-purple, almost black flowers. Rounded leaf species.

Rosea - ‘Simplex’ Single flowers on strong stalks. Mix of colors. Hybrid selection.

Rugosa - Russian origin, very hardy and long lived. Clear single yellow flowers, excellent rust resistance.