Hollyhocks (Alcea) are a plant genus that includes around 60 species. The best-known variety is probably the common hollyhock, which is an ornamental plant in many cottage gardens and is also used as a medicinal plant.

Double hollyhocks are particularly beautiful

How do I find the right hollyhock for my garden?

The hollyhocks can be two meters high and even larger, depending on the variety. And when it comes to the color of the flowers, as a garden owner you have a large selection from white to yellow, pink and red to almost black flowers. The flowers can simply be filled. Hollyhocks can also be combined well with daisies, lupins or delphiniums.

All varieties prefer a sunny and warm location and well-drained soil. Therefore, you can choose the right hollyhock according to your taste. As a privacy screen on the fence, choose a tall variety with double flowers, such as Alcea rosea plena. It grows to a height of around 1.80 - 2 m and is available in yellow, pink or red.

Which varieties of hollyhock are particularly beautiful?

In addition to the already mentioned Alcea rosea plena with double flowers, the black-red flowering Alcea rosea 'Nigra' is particularly decorative. The dark flowers of the almost 2 m high plant are single. You can use it to prepare a tasty cough tea or use the flowers for coloring.

The perennial hollyhock, Alcea rugosa, even grows up to 2.20 m high. It has bright yellow flowers and is also known as Russian hollyhock or yellow hollyhock. In contrast to other hollyhocks, it is relatively rarely attacked by mallow rust and also tolerates poor soil and short dry periods more easily. So it is a little easier to care for than the other hollyhocks.

Particularly interesting varieties of hollyhock:

  • Alcea rosea plena: double flowers in yellow, pink or red
  • Alcea rosea 'Nigra': black-red flowers
  • Alcea rugosa: up to 2.20 m high

tips

If you would like to plant several hollyhocks in your garden, then combine different colors and varieties with each other.

Category:

Vegetable garden