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Hollyhock (Althaea rosea, which see). Figs. 1844, 1845. The hollyhock is one of the very oldest of cultivated flowers and is today an inhabitant of most gardens, and is known by its common name not only to all cultivators of plants but even to school-children. Its showy blossoms in July after the larger number of plants have ceased flowering has much helped to make it known to all, while its history, its place in poetry and folk-lore, and its associations in the past drama of the world have been forgotten or vaguely remembered. Its beauty causes its cultivation today.

Hollyhock (Althaea rosea, which see). Figs. 1844, 1845. The hollyhock is one of the very oldest of cultivated flowers and is today an inhabitant of most gardens, and is known by its common name not only to all cultivators of plants but even to school-children. Its showy blossoms in July after the larger number of plants have ceased flowering has much helped to make it known to all, while its history, its place in poetry and folk-lore, and its associations in the past drama of the world have been forgotten or vaguely remembered. Its beauty causes its cultivation today.

The hollyhock rust (Puccinia malvaceaerum) bothers very little m deeply dug and drained beds with plants grown outdoors and planted with the tap-roots properly placed and the crowns in the proper place in reference to the soil-surface. An appreciation of the deep-rooting, drainage-liking habit and qualifications of the plant will do more to combat this disease than any amount of bordeaux mixture. In the United States Experiment Station Record, Vol. XXXI, No. 3, note is made from an article in a French publication (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. 158, No. 6) which declares the hollyhock rust to have been successfully combated during a three- year trial by supplying as water to the roots a 3 per cent solution of copper sulfate.

The hollyhock rust (Puccinia malvaceaerum) bothers very little m deeply dug and drained beds with plants grown outdoors and planted with the tap-roots properly placed and the crowns in the proper place in reference to the soil-surface. An appreciation of the deep-rooting, drainage-liking habit and qualifications of the plant will do more to combat this disease than any amount of bordeaux mixture. In the United States Experiment Station Record, Vol. XXXI, No. 3, note is made from an article in a French publication (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. 158, No. 6) which declares the hollyhock rust to have been successfully combated during a three- year trial by supplying as water to the roots a 3 per cent solution of copper sulfate.

In landscape work, the hollyhock best belongs to the herbaceous perennial groupings, but it can be well used alone in groups adjoining shrubbery, or in many places in place of shrubbery. It can seldom be used to advantage in mixture with woody plants, since the hollyhock needs light on its lower basal leaves. Further, the foliage of the hollyhock neither resembles nor contrasts well with that of the larger number of shrubs, although there are exceptions, for example, hydrangeas of the arbor^scens type and hollyhocks form a pleasing mixture- F. W. Barclay.

In landscape work, the hollyhock best belongs to the herbaceous perennial groupings, but it can be well used alone in groups adjoining shrubbery, or in many places in place of shrubbery. It can seldom be used to advantage in mixture with woody plants, since the hollyhock needs light on its lower basal leaves. Further, the foliage of the hollyhock neither resembles nor contrasts well with that of the larger number of shrubs, although there are exceptions, for example, hydrangeas of the arborescens type and hollyhocks form a pleasing mixture-.

==Cultivation==

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Plants flower from from mid-summer to autumn so a little care in cultivation is well worthwhile: they are best staked,as reaching 1.5 to 2 metres high in a season they have rather poor wind resistance.  Are very prone to disfiguring rust disease - evident as bright orange pustules on leaves and stems - which spoil the appearance; fortnightly fungicide sprays will keep rust at bay; most effectively by using different products in rotation.  

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The '''hollyhocks''' comprise about 60 species of [[flowering plant]]s in the genus '''''Alcea''''' in the mallow family [[Malvaceae]], native to southwest and central [[Asia]]. They are biennial or short-lived perennial plants growing to 1-3 m tall, with broad, rounded, palmately lobed [[leaf|leaves]] and numerous [[flower]]s, pink or yellow in the wild species, on the erect central stem.

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==Species==

==Species==

*''Alcea sulphurea''

*''Alcea sulphurea''

==Uses==

==Gallery==

 

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Hollyhocks are popular [[garden]] [[ornamental plant]]s, with numerous [[cultivar]]s selected, particularly from ''A. rosea''. The flowers have been selected for variations in colour, with dark purple, red and white-flowered plants available in addition to the colours found in wild plants.

 

Hollyhocks are very drought resistant, and do well in full sun locations that might be too hot or dry for other plants.  They produce large, flat coin-shaped seeds (1/2" diameter)  that seem to grow easily wherever they drop.  While an individual plant might only live a handful of years, by that time chances are good it will leave plenty of descendants.

 

Cultivation: Plants flower from from mid-summer to autumn so a little care in cultivation is well worthwhile: they are best staked,as reaching 1.5 to 2 metres high in a season they have rather poor wind resistance. Are very prone to disfiguring rust disease - evident as bright orange pustules on leaves and stems - which spoil the appearance; fortnightly fungicide sprays will keep rust at bay; most effectively by using different products in rotation. 

A stylized, symmetrical hollyhock is the seal of the [[Tokugawa]] family in [[Japan]], and is often used as a reference to the era in Japan's history where that family ruled the country.

Also known is the character '[[Aoi no Ue]]' (or 'Awoi no Uye' 葵上, 'Lady Hollyhock') from [[The Tale of Genji]].

*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->

<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->

<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

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