In which environments does hollyhock grow more advantageously?

Other names of hollyhock

Hollyhock, also known as yizhanghong, shujihua, rongkui, wukui, weizukui, hukui, doupeng hua and shujie hua, is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant of the genus Alcea in the mallow family (Malvaceae). Because it originated in Sichuan, China, it is called Shukui (Sichuan mallow). And because it can reach about one zhang in height and its flowers are mostly red, it is also called yizhanghong (one zhang red).

Morphological characteristics of hollyhock

Hollyhock is a biennial herbaceous plant; the plant can reach a height of 2 m to 3 m, with erect, upright stems, growing in clumps, unbranched, and the whole plant is covered with stellate hairs and bristles. The leaves are nearly round-cordate or oblong, 6 cm to 18 cm long and 5 cm to 20 cm wide; the basal leaves are larger, the leaf surface is rough, both sides are covered with stellate hairs, and the petiole is 5 cm to 15 cm long.

The flowers are solitary or nearly clustered in the leaf axils, sometimes arranged in racemes. There are 6 to 9 bracteoles, broadly lanceolate, united at the base and attached outside the calyx tube. There are 5 sepals, ovate-lanceolate. The corolla is 6 to 13 cm in diameter, with colors such as purple, purplish red, pink, pale red, purple-black, yellow and white, as well as bicolor varieties with different colors at the edges. There are 5 or more petals, obovate, with wavy and wrinkled or toothed edges, single, semi-double to double. Stamens are numerous; the anthers are united into a tube and surround the style; the style is linear and protrudes above the stamens. The capsule is flat-round; the seeds are kidney-shaped, with the back edge raised like a cockscomb and oblique lines on the sides; the thousand-seed weight is about 9.2 g.

Growing habits of hollyhock

Hollyhock likes full sunlight and tolerates partial shade, but dislikes waterlogging. It has strong tolerance to saline-alkali conditions and can still grow in soil containing 0.6% salt. It is cold-tolerant and can overwinter safely in the open field in North China. It grows well in loose, fertile, well-drained sandy soil rich in organic matter.

Symbolic meaning of the hollyhock flower language

The flower language of hollyhock is gentleness.

If you want to send flowers to your beloved or girlfriend to praise her gentle personality and her qualities as a good wife and loving mother, then you might consider sending red hollyhock, which represents the flower language of gentleness. Red hollyhock, that is, red hollyhock, is very beautiful, with bright colors that give a fresh feeling, and is very popular. Red hollyhock is especially suitable for planting in courtyards, along roadsides, and in sites arranged as flower borders. It can also form lush green hedges and flower walls, beautifying the garden environment. It brings a gentle feeling to the owners of the hedges and flower walls.

Value of hollyhock

1. Ornamental value. Hollyhock has large leaves, abundant flowers and bright colors, and a long flowering period, and is a relatively commonly cultivated flower in gardens. It is suitable for planting beside buildings, beside rockeries, or as an accent in flower beds and lawns, planted in rows or clumps. Dwarf varieties can be grown as pot flowers and displayed in front of doors, but should not be kept indoors for long. They can also be cut for cut flowers, for vase arrangement or for making flower baskets, bouquets, etc.

2. Medicinal value. The roots, stems, leaves, flowers and seeds of hollyhock are medicinal materials; they clear heat and detoxify, and when taken internally treat constipation, neutralize pufferfish poison, promote urination and treat dysentery. When used externally, they treat sores, ulcers, burns and other conditions.

3. Other value. Hollyhock roots contain sugars and alcohol compounds. The flowers contain anthocyanins, red pigments, glucose and althaein. The seeds contain fatty oil, in which unsaturated free alcohols make up 34.88%. The stems can be used as weaving fiber material, and the anthocyanins extracted from the flowers can serve as food colorants.

Appreciation of hollyhock pictures