Hollyhock
Alcea rosea L.
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) is a tall herb 1.5–3 m in the mallow family, with large flowers borne in a spike at the top; a popular ornamental whose leaves and flowers are also used in folk medicine.
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Gallery
Hollyhock — fruit and seedsHollyhock — plants (whole, over 1 m tall)
Hollyhock — flower
Hollyhock — flower (detail)
Hollyhock — leaf
Hollyhock — flower budsHollyhock — fruit and seedsHollyhock — plants (whole, over 1 m tall)Overview
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea), also called common hollyhock, is an herb of the mallow family (Malvaceae), genus Alcea, with an erect, hairy stem 1.5–3 m tall. The leaves are large and heart-shaped to round, 5–7 lobed with toothed margins, arranged alternately on long stalks. The flowers are large (6–12 cm across) with five petals, borne in a long spike at the top of the stem; colours range widely from white and pink to red and purple, sometimes yellow. A hallmark of the mallow family is the **staminal column** (the stamens united into a tube) surrounding the style. The fruit is a disc-shaped schizocarp of many segments that split apart when ripe, each with a seed.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/12/2026
Hollyhock is native to southwestern China and has long been cultivated worldwide as an ornamental. It prefers full sun and loose, well-drained soil, and usually flowers in summer. Besides its ornamental value, its **leaves and flowers** contain mucilage and are used in some folk remedies; **fibre** from the stems was once used for weaving. It has not been assessed by the IUCN and is therefore listed as Not Evaluated (NE).
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/12/2026
Life cycle
From seed to productPlant & foliage
From seed the herb grows erect stems and a canopy of large, lobed leaves; it grows fast in spring–summer.
Flower buds
Rounded flower buds form a spike along the top of the stem, swelling before they open.
Flowering
Large 5-petalled flowers open from the bottom upward along the spike; many colours; the staminal column surrounds the style.
Fruit & seeds
After flowering, a disc-like schizocarp forms with ringed segments; at maturity it splits, releasing many seeds.
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- Southwestern China (native)30%
- East & Central Asia (introduced/cultivated)20%
- Europe (widely cultivated)20%
- North America (cultivated)15%
- Elsewhere (ornamental)15%
Chemical composition
Relative content in agarwood resin- MucilageAbundant in leaves and flowers; gelatinous30%
- Anthocyanins (flower pigments)Give the red, pink and purple flower colours20%
- FlavonoidsPresent in leaves and flowers15%
- Fibre & pectinFibre from the stems15%
- Sugars & organic acidsIn cell sap10%
- Minerals & othersIn small amounts10%
Uses
- Ornamental: widely grown for its **large, colourful flowers** borne on tall spikes.
- Folk medicine: the **leaves and flowers** are mucilaginous and used in some traditional remedies (soothing).
- Culinary: the **petals** are edible and can garnish dishes; eat raw parts in small amounts.
- Fibre: the **stems** once yielded fibre for weaving.
- Caution: take care when gathering; some parts can have irritating hairs.
Properties
- Life form
- Tall erect herb, fast-growing
- Flowers
- Large, showy, colourful flowers, blooming in summer
- Medicinal & culinary
- Mucilaginous; leaves and flowers used in folk use; petals edible
- Fibre
- Stem fibre once used for weaving
Habitat & conservation
Hollyhock prefers sunny spots and loose, nutrient-rich, well-drained soil; it is grown in gardens and along walls and often self-seeds in open ground. Native to southwestern China, it is now planted worldwide.
Conservation
Hollyhock is widely cultivated and not globally threatened; it has not been assessed by the IUCN and is therefore listed as Not Evaluated (NE). Family Malvaceae, genus Alcea. Value: ornamental; leaves and flowers used in folk medicine; stem fibre.
References
- 1POWO — Alcea rosea L. — Plants of the World Online (Kew), 2026
- 2GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Alcea rosea L. — GBIF, 2026
- 3Wikipedia EN — Alcea rosea (common hollyhock) — Wikipedia EN, 2026
- 4Wikipedia VI — Thục quỳ — Wikipedia VI, 2026
- 5Wikipedia ZH — 蜀葵 — Wikipedia ZH, 2026
- 6Ảnh: Tarunsamanta (CC BY-SA 4.0); S.G.S. (CC0); Fons Heijnsbroek (CC0) — Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons, 2026
- 7Ảnh: Salix, Bff (CC BY-SA 4.0); Feuilles rose tremière (CC BY-SA 3.0) — Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons, 2026