What is the difference between mallow and hollyhock? A quick guide to telling the two flowers apart

Hollyhock is a common flowering potted plant in daily life, and it is well loved for its unique flower shape and bright colors, but many people often confuse it with mallow. Although the two look very similar, a closer look will still reveal their differences. Now let's take a look together at the differences between mallow and hollyhock.

1. Difference in family and genus

Mallow belongs to the genus Malva in the family Malvaceae, while hollyhock belongs to the genus Alcea in the family Malvaceae. Their relationship is like half-brothers: they share the same family and genus, but they grow in different places. Their flowering periods are also different. Hollyhock usually blooms from June to August, while mallow has a slightly longer flowering period, from May to October.

2. Difference in plant form

Mallow and hollyhock look quite similar, but on closer observation, their grown forms still differ somewhat. Mallow is a biennial plant, and there are also perennial upright herbaceous forms; it has many side branches and looks very lush, and the plant reaches only about 50-90 cm at most, never exceeding 1 m. Hollyhock is different: it is a biennial upright herb, but it can grow up to 2 m tall, with stems and branches that are dense and covered with many prickly hairs.

3. Difference in leaves

The leaves of mallow are mostly round, and many are kidney-shaped, with leaf tips gradually becoming pointed, and the leaf stalks are also very short. The leaves of hollyhock are fuller, and the leaf shape is also nearly round and very plump; both sides of the leaf have hairs, the leaf tip has three small points, and even the leaf stalk is longer than that of mallow.

4. Difference in petals

What makes mallow and hollyhock hardest to tell apart is their flowers. Mallow's flowers are relatively small, and the flower color is somewhat monotonous, most commonly purplish pink. Hollyhock's flowers are slightly larger, and the flower colors are also more varied, including not only white and red, but also pink and yellow.

  The above is an introduction to the differences between mallow and hollyhock. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.