Hollyhock

The hollyhock (Alcea rosea, syn.: Althaea rosea) is a biennial plant of the mallow family (Malvaceae). The plant is originally from Turkey and Palestine and in the 16th century, imported to Europe. The plant does well in rural and urban environment and exists in many different colors. There are single and double hollyhocks.

It grows best on relatively poor clay soil, but the darker varieties do well on sandy soils. The hollyhock thrives best in a sheltered, warm and not too humid place.

A familiar place is a wall or fence on the south, because the plant likes Sun In dry weather, the extra water plant, otherwise dry the flowers and the seeds ripen prematurely.

The plant blooms in summer from June to August with long flower stems of 1-1.5 m high, but the plant can be much higher (up to about 3 meters). During the flowering plant attracts bees to. The hollyhock has split fruits in which seeds are 7-8 mm high.

Growing of hollyhocks is by seed, at the end of summer has come and direct sowing can be. Sowing is also in the subsequent spring. If the seed is ripe fruits split the cracks will open. The hollyhock is also self-sow.

If the hollyhock is sown in spring, that year alone, the plant leaves and will not bloom the following year. We sow the hollyhock at the end of the summer (August / September) than the plant can bloom the following year, but that depends on the weather, it can also be one year longer.

The hollyhock is after blooming beside the old rosette new shoots. The old stems should be cut, otherwise it costs too much energy the plant.

A well-known disease of the hollyhock is "rust", a fungal infection. The plant is not of death, but it is ugly. Rust usually means that the plant is too wet.



Source: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stokroos

See Also: International Flower Delivery, Florist

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