Alcea rosea

RHS Plant Profile

hollyhock

Other common names

common hollyhock

Synonyms

Althaea rosea

Annual Biennial

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A robust biennial or short-lived perennial to 2m or more with shallowly lobed, or deeply palmately divided, rounded leaves and long erect racemes of open funnel-shaped flowers to 10cm across, which may be pink, purple, red, white or yellow

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Malvaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Alcea are robust biennials or short-lived perennials with showy funnel-shaped flowers borne in tall, erect racemes in summer
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Thrives in well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun. May need support on exposed sites, see staking perennials

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in gentle heat in mid-winter or in-situ in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Coastal
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Cut back dead foliage after flowering, or pull out and discard - growing as annuals or biennials can help limit the spread of rust

Pests

May be susceptible to cutworms and slugs on young growth, and to capsid bugs, aphids and mallow flea beetles

Diseases

May be susceptible to hollyhock rust