Hollyhock

Alcea rosea is a 2.4 metres (8 feet) tall plant with large flowers around 13 centimetres (5 in) in diameter. Its leaves are large and heart-shaped.

In herbal medicine, which may lack evidence, hollyhock is believed to be an emollient and laxative. It is thought to control inflammation, to stop bedwetting and as a mouthwash in cases of bleeding gums.

Alcea rosea is variously described as a biennial (having a two-year life cycle), as an annual, or as a short-lived perennial. It frequently self-sows, which may create a perception that the plants are perennial. The plant may flower during its first year when sown early. It will grow in a wide range of soils, and can easily reach a height of 2.4 m (8 ft) The flowers are in a range of colours from white to dark red, including pink, yellow and orange. Different colours prefer different soils. The darker red variety seems to favour sandy soils, while the lighter colour seems to favour clay soils. The plants are easily grown from seed, and readily self-seed. However, tender plants, whether young from seed or from old stock, may be wiped out by slugs and snails. The foliage is subject to attack from rust fungus, which may be treated with fungicides. Commercial growers have reported that some closely related species (Alcea ficifolia and A. rugosa) are resistant to this fungus.