Hollyhock is a biennial flower. Large double headed flower mix. Ancient plant related to marshmallow, typical of cottage gardens. Attracts bees. Great for back of borders.
Sow May to July. Flowers June to September. Height approx 120cm.

As part of the mallow family, all parts of the hollyhock plant are edible. Leaves can be used in salad, immature seedpods as a snack, roots made into sweets and flowers added as a garnish. Other uses include lightly boiling the leaves to form a gooey green liquid that, once strained, can replace egg whites in baking!

It is thought that Romans would use the soft leaves of the tree mallow as toilet paper, hence its Latin name "Lavatera arborea"!