Description
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) is a tall, striking biennial or short-lived perennial flowering plant, known for its towering spires of vibrant blooms. Native to Asia and Europe, it thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, and is well-suited to cottage gardens, food forests, and permaculture systems where vertical interest and pollinator attraction are valued.
Growing up to 2–3 metres high, hollyhocks are ideal for planting along fences, walls, or as backdrops in layered garden beds. Their large, open flowers are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, helping to support pollination throughout the garden. Hollyhocks are generally hardy, tolerating dry spells once established, though they perform best with regular watering during hot periods.
The flowers of hollyhock are edible and can be used as a colourful garnish for salads, cakes, and drinks. Their flavour is mild and slightly sweet. In traditional herbal medicine, particularly in Europe, hollyhock flowers and roots were used anecdotally for soothing sore throats, skin irritations, and digestive discomfort, although modern scientific evidence supporting these uses is limited.
In permaculture gardens, hollyhock serves both a practical and aesthetic role: acting as a bee-magnet, a seasonal windbreak, and a source of edible, medicinal flowers, while also contributing organic matter when cut back.
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