Hollyhocks (Alcea) are a genus of plants that include around 60 species. The best-known variety is probably the common hollyhock, which is found as an ornamental plant in many cottage gardens and is also used as a medicinal plant.
Which varieties of hollyhock are particularly recommended?
Particularly beautiful hollyhock varieties are Alcea rosea plena with double flowers in yellow, pink or red, Alcea rosea 'Nigra' with black-red flowers and Alcea rugosa, which grows up to 2.20 m high and has light yellow flowers.
How do I find the right hollyhock for my garden?
The hollyhocks can be two meters high or even taller, depending on the variety. As a garden owner, you also have a wide choice of flower colors, from white to yellow, pink and red to almost black flowers. The flowers can simply be double. Hollyhocks can also be combined well with daisies, lupins or delphiniums.
All varieties prefer a sunny, warm location and well-drained soil. Therefore, you can choose the right hollyhock according to your taste. As a privacy screen on the fence, you may want to choose a tall-growing variety with double flowers, such as Alcea rosea plena. It grows to around 1.80 – 2 m high 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 considered particularly decorative. The dark flowers of the plant, which grows almost 2 m high, are unfilled. You can use it to make a tasty cough tea or use the flowers for coloring.
The perennial hollyhock, Alcea rugosa, even grows up to 2.20 m high. It blooms light yellow and is also known as Russian hollyhock or yellow hollyhock. In contrast to other hollyhocks, it is relatively rarely affected by mallow rust and 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
Tip
If you would like to plant several hollyhocks in your garden, then combine different colors and varieties with each other.
