Guide to growing Marsh Mallow, Hollyhock Althaea

The common names for the Hardy annual or perennial Althaea include Hollyhock and Marsh Mallow.

It typically flowers from summer to early autumn.

The mucilaginous roots of Althaea and the leaves have been used for many meditional purposes in the past, especially for respiratory diseases and asthma.

Description of Hollyhock / Marsh Mallow

Althaea are large plants, with older plants capable of reaching up to 180 cm in height. Hollyhock has double flowers of most colours. It is ideal for growing in cottage gardens.

How to grow Hollyhock / Marsh Mallow

It is best to sow hollyhock on the soil surface, with a spacing of 50 to 90cm after the last frost of spring. Hollyhock/ Marsh mallow enjoys both light shade or full sunlight. The soil should be well drained, rich and moist with a pH between 6 and 7.5 Althaea requires between 10 and 15 days to germinate at a temperature of 15 to 20 degrees celsius. When growing indoors prior to transplanting in the spring they should be grown in peat pots.

Caring for Hollyhock and Marsh Mallow

Hollyhock, marsh Mallow and other Althaea memebrs are easy to take care of as long as they are well spaced, they requires regular watering in the summer and should be staked. A second bloom is possible if flowers are removed prior to setting seed.

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