Red Hollyhock (Alcea)
This red hollyhock was standing proud in the setting sun as we walked around the Magnolia Park Neighborhood of Burbank, California the other night, during their monthly “Ladies Night Out” event. The combination of light, sky and the red color of the flowers was amazing in persona and hopefully comes through in this photograph. Hollyhocks have always interested me due to their large size and beautiful colors. I seem to take picture whenever I happen across them.
Photo: Douglas E. Welch, A Gardener’s Notebook
From Wikipedia…
“Alcea, commonly known as hollyhocks, is a genus of about 60 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae.[1] They are native to Asia and Europe.[1]
Hollyhocks are annual, biennial, or perennial plants usually taking an erect, unbranched form. The herbage usually has a coating of star-shaped hairs. The leaf blades are often lobed or toothed, and are borne on long petioles. The flowers may be solitary or arranged in fascicles or racemes. The notched petals are usually over 3 centimeters wide and may be pink, white, purple, or yellow. The fruit is a schizocarp, a dry disc divided into over 15 sections that contain seeds.[1]” — Wikipedia.org
More information on Hollyhock:
- Hollyhiock (Alcea) on Wikipedia
- Hollyhock (Alcea) at Better Homes and Gardens
- Hollyhock (Alcea) at Organic Gardening
Previously in Flowering Now: