From the Ground Up: Hollyhocks reign tall in the garden

I'd like to honor my mother and grandmother today by sharing their favorite flower with you: the Alcea rosea or Hollyhocks. These stately plants with bell-shaped flowers are the centerpiece for one of my fondest memories of us together. Hollyhocks used to be a common sight on farmsteads, but fewer are seen in today's suburban gardens.

They originated in Asia, but have naturalized in the United States. There are more than 60 varieties of the mallow family, but the most recognized is a tall spire, up to 9 feet, with bell-shaped blossoms in layered steps. Colors range from deep red to pink, lavender, purple and white. Yellow is also found, but not as common. There are single and double bloomers, ranging from 2 to 9 feet in height.

Hollyhocks are biennials, growing only foliage the first year, flowers the second. Once established, they will reseed each year so there should be plenty blooming. Hollyhocks thrive in full sun, relatively moist soil and need wind protection like a fence or high barrier because of their height.

Be sure to water and maintain the plants the first year, even though they are only foliage. The second year they will form spikes in May and bloom continuously from the bottom up for weeks. Plants are easier to start than seeds. After plants are settled, self seeding will occur each year for eventual yearly blooms.

Alcea rosea are not only beautiful but also play an important role in the habitat of pollinators (bees, butterflies, and moths). The single bloom hollyhock is the host plant for both the Painted Lady and Tropical Checkered Skipper butterflies. These butterflies lay eggs on the leaves, and caterpillars feed on them until they become a chrysalis. When the butterfly emerges, it uses the flower for nectar. Hollyhocks are the nectar plant for a wide variety of butterflies, moths and bees. By the time fall arrives, the plant has spotted eaten leaves - no insecticides should ever be used on this plant.

These beautiful flowers gave my sister, mom, oma, and myself hours of fun - the blossoms make wonderful princesses. Take the bell and turn it over as the skirt. Then take a bud from the top of a spire (they never bloom anyway), break it off an inch down for the neck, and place it in the top of the bloom. On summer afternoons, we would make our little people and then play for hours, twirling and swirling our flower princesses at the ball.

' Becki Lynch is a Linn County Master Gardener.