The tall and upright hollyhock flowers, with their variety of colours, can jazz up the walls in gardens and yards, especially when grown in rows. The decorative, cup-shaped hollyhocks on a long stem are also used as a cut flower. With its wide array of colours — including white, red, pink, purple and yellow — the hollyhock is an integral part of a bouquet and vase.

Scientifically known as Alcea rosea, the garden hollyhocks belong to the Malvaceae family. There are a number of stories and myths related to how the flower got its unique name.

One story goes that those returning from the Crusades in the 11th and 12th centuries brought back the hollyhock seeds to Europe. They also changed the flower’s name from ‘hoc’ (hoc means mallow in Anglo-Saxon, which also belongs to the Malvaceae family) by adding ‘holy’ before it to give it its current name.

According to another story, a herbalist from the 15th century named the flower Holyoke, which later evolved into hollyhocks. These two stories are seemingly the most authentic and believable ones.

The tall and colourful hollyhock will brighten up your garden, but the flower........

© Dawn (Magazines)