Hollyhocks (genus Alcea) are more than just beautiful flowers that add vertical drama and cottage charm to your garden — they’re edible, medicinal, and beneficial for pollinators. With their towering stalks and old-fashioned appeal, hollyhocks are often grown for aesthetic purposes, but surprisingly, every part of this plant is useful, from root to petal.
Here’s why you should grow hollyhocks in your yard — and how to safely eat and use every part of this underappreciated powerhouse plant.
🌼 What Are Hollyhocks?
Hollyhocks are flowering plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae), related to hibiscus, okra, and marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis). Native to Asia and the Middle East, they have been grown in Europe and North America for centuries.
Botanical Facts:
- Scientific name: Alcea rosea
- Type: Biennial or short-lived perennial
- Height: Up to 8 feet (2.5 meters)
- Flowers: Wide range of colors (pink, white, purple, yellow, red)
- Bloom Time: Summer to early fall
🌟 Why You Should Grow Hollyhocks in Your Yard
1. Beautiful Vertical Interest
Their tall spikes and large, ruffled blooms create stunning backdrops in flower beds, borders, and along fences.
2. Attract Pollinators
Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love hollyhocks. The open blooms provide easy access to nectar and pollen.
🐝 Fact: A study from the University of Sussex confirms that hollyhocks are among the top flowers visited by bumblebees and solitary bees.
3. Low Maintenance
Hollyhocks thrive in full sun, tolerate poor soil, and reseed themselves easily. Once planted, they return year after year with minimal care.
4. Medicinal Properties
Hollyhocks are traditionally used to soothe sore throats, coughs, digestive discomfort, and skin irritations, much like their cousin, marshmallow root.
5. They’re Edible!
Surprisingly, every part of the plant — leaves, flowers, seeds, and even roots — is edible or medicinal when harvested properly.
🥗 How to Eat and Use Every Part of the Hollyhock Plant
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