Distinguished pedigree of a garden favourite
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea), a biennial or perennial member of the family Malvaceae growing to about 2m in moist or marshy ground in Europe and China. Originally a native to China, it can now be found growing as a garden decorative throughout the temperate world. The plant is distinguished by its tall erect central stem with blunt alternate palmate leaves, which support a group of flower pods that cluster around the stem and open in succession revealing their large bell-like showy flowers. It is overall hairy; the colours range through white, pink, scarlet and deep purple and some have a double form. Hollyhocks do not produce a flower until the second year.
The plant is closely related to the Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) and shares many of its chemical properties. The derivation of the name is probably from the Anglo-Saxon for holy mallow.
Hollyhock was known to be valued by the ancients, and it is found on Egyptian tomb carvings and is mentioned in the Ebers papyrus as a cure for swollen tonsils. The seed pods or cheeses were discovered in some Neanderthal burial chambers and are thought to be grave food to the afterlife; archaeologists refer to them as burial buttons. Joseph Miller a colleague of Gerard, writes, “It is mostly used in gargles for the swelling of the tonsils and the relaxation of the uvula”.
The main constituents of hollyhock are mucilage, tannins, and the pigment anthocyanin; this renders it emollient, demulcent and diuretic. The root is infused to combat excess stomach acid, peptic ulcers, gastritis, colitis, diverticulitis (pouching in the colon), irritable bowel syndrome and to ease teething in babies. It is recorded that the Bedouin dried and powdered the root to prevent miscarriages. The leaves are prepared as a decoction and used topically to treat boils, abscesses and inflamed gums. The leaves have been used for centuries by herbalists to protect mucous membranes, prevent dry coughs, bronchial asthma and pleurisy. The flowers were infused and employed as a wash for weathered and ageing skin; they were also added to butter, soups and stews.
All parts of the plant yield a dye, the stem, yellow, the root, cream, and the leaves, green; these are used to colour medicines and food products.
Hollyhocks are the graceful wands that festoon our motorways and make marvelous deep bed ornamentals; the seed is contained within the little buttons that cover the plant after flowering and are so easily gathered. Scatter them at the back of your borders or drop them along the fence-line. They will only produce leaves in their first year but will reward you handsomely the following year; they require little attention, but make sure you water them well after planting.
Next week Carlines
