{"title":"Alcea","description":"\u003cp\u003eAlcea is a genus of roughly 60 Asian and European species of perennial plants related to hibiscus, cotton, cocoa and okra (Mallows). Gardeners in the northern states are especially familiar with cultivars of the common garden hollyhock, \u003cem\u003eAlcea rosea\u003c\/em\u003e, whose tall spikes of large colorful flowers are a common site in cottage gardens and on farmsteads. The flowers are beautiful and attract hummingbirds. In the wild, Alcea species live in hot dry habitats in grasslands or on rocky soils. In the garden they can survive in very hot, dry sites, but humidity will do them in. In the South where summer humidity is sauna-like, the common \u003cem\u003eAlcea rosea\u003c\/em\u003e is very short-lived and the plants to quickly succumb to one of the many diseases that are common with this group such as rust and powdery mildew. However there are species that can beat the heat.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWe searched to find hollyhocks for humid gardens and found \u003ca title=\"Alcea rugosa (Russian Hollycock)\" href=\"\/products\/alcea-rugosa\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAlcea rugosa\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e in of all places, the Carpathian mountain region of the Ukraine and the Caucasus mountain region of Armenia and Turkey. This species is much more rust resistant and better suited to the South than a typical hollyhock. \u003cem\u003eAlcea rugosa\u003c\/em\u003e is quite drought-tolerant and can really take the heat once established. The flowers produce copious amounts of seed which will replace the short-lived (3-4 years) parent plant and provide plenty to share.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAlcea is in the mallow family. See our other \u003ca title=\"mallows for sale\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/mallow-plants\"\u003emallows for sale\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"alcea-rugosa","title":"Alcea rugosa","description":"\u003cp\u003eAlcea rugosa is a superb but rarely encountered hollyhock from Russia that's been one of the best performers in our display garden. From an evergreen basal rosette of corrugated grey-green leaves arise tall, sturdy, 6-7' spikes beginning in spring. The spikes of Alcea rugosa are clothed along the bottom half with typical hollyhock foliage, while the top half is adorned all summer with large, 4\", single, buttery-yellow, classic mallow flowers attractive to hummingbirds and edible for humans. For us, Alcea rugosa has proven to be a reliable and disease-resistant perennial compared to other hollyhock species.\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21025929477,"sku":"4469","price":21.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Alcea-rugosa.i-4469.s-17185.r-1.jpg?v=1791228734"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/collections\/Alcea-rugosa-1900x350_4696d501-9ee0-45f0-acc9-32cafec55360.jpg?v=1680090506","url":"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/alcea-hollyhock.oembed","provider":"Plant Delights Nursery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}