Hollyhock

Hollyhock - Alcea rosea

Description

Tall, rather bristly plant up to 3 metres in height. Leaves large (to 30 cm) rounded heart-shape in outline, usually 5 to 7 lobed, coarsely toothed, long stalked. Flowers generally pink or white, large 60 to 80 mm in long, leafy, slender racemes.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Usually found as an escape from cultivation. Occurring on roadside verges and waste places, often close to habitation.

When to see it

Flowers July to September.

Life History

Perennial.

UK Status

Widespread in England as an escape from cultivation.

VC55 Status

Rarely recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland. It was not included in the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records

Photo of the association

Mallow Rust

Puccinia malvacearum is a rust fungus that galls the leaves and petioles of members of the Malvaceae family including Hollyhock and Mallows (such as Common Mallow).  There is no host alternation, and only telia are produced.  Numerous yellow spots occur on the upper surfaces of the leaves, whilst on the underside of the leaves and on the petioles it causes hard rounded swellings, occasionally yellowish but most often reddish brown and later powder grey.