Alcea rugosa
Hollyhock
Type Biennial, perennial
Hardy range 2A to 8A
Height 5' to 6' / 1.60m to 1.80m
Spread 12" to 36" / 30cm to 90cm
Growth rate Fast
Form Upright or erect
Exposure Full sun
Bloom Color Yellow
Bloom Time Summer and Fall
Environment This plant tolerates some drought and some salt.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.
Leaf Color Green
Culture Notes This tall plant will need staking if not planted next to a fence or a wall. Remember that cultivars will not come true from seed. This plant is usually grown as a biennial, but can be grown as a perennial if, after flowering, it is cut to 6in/15cm above the ground. Burn the remains.
A. rugosa (Russian Hollyhock) has large, single, yellow (sometimes appearing as yellowish-orange) blooms and deeply lobed foliage. It tends to have less of a problem with hollyhock rust than some of the other cultivars.
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