Hollyhock
Alcea rosea L.
Images
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Morphology
- Stem
- Erect, straight,mostly unbranched, coarse-hairy.
- Leaves
- Alternate, nearly round, 2 to 12 inches wide, wrinkled; margins shallowly 5-7-lobed or wavy, principal veins palmate; base heart-shaped; stalks long, to 12 inches on leaves of basal rosette, progressively reduced above.
- Inflorescence
- Raceme, spike-like, terminal.
- Flower
- Showy, around 4 inches broad; stalk short; bracts below calyx 6-9, triangular, united basally; calyx 5-lobed, 3/5 to 4/5 inch long, lobes broadly triangular; petals 5, 1.2 to 2 inches long, overlapping, usually with shallow indentations at top, pink, rose, red, purple or white; stamen column with anthers at tip.
- Fruit
- Rings of 15-40 1-seeded segments, outer surface pubescent.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Waste places, roadsides, railroads, fields, farmsteads.
- Distribution
- Scattered throughout
Practical Information
- Uses
- Native Americans used the leaves to apply an infusion of flowers to skin inflammations.
Additional Notes
Comments
Hollyhock was cultivated in flower gardens and sometimes escaped to waste places. It can be found in a wide variety of colors but escaped plants are often pink or rose.
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Wildflower
- Family
- Malvaceae - Mallow Family
- Life Span
- Biennial
- Height
- 3-10 feet
- Origin
- Native
- Last Updated
- 2009-02-02
Color Groups
Pink, Red & Orange Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Blooms: May, June, July, August, September