Alcea

The Alcea are more commonly known by the name hollyhocks and are flowering perennial, biennial or annual plants in a genus from the Malvaceae family. There are around 60 species and they originate from Europe and Asia. They normally grow in an unbranched, vertical form and are most commonly covered in star-like hairs. Alcea leaves are usually toothed or lobed and on long petioles and while some species bloom solitary individual flowers, others bloom more than one arranged into racemes or fascicles. Their flowers come in various light colours including yellow, white and pink and darker toned colours such as red and purple. Generally hollyhocks or Alcea are used as strictly ornamental plants for gardens Hollyhocks are popular garden ornamental plants. Red flowered Alcea have been known to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. There are some cultivars that have been created using the Alcea Rosea, including the varieties of the pant known as The Watchmen (with almost black, dark maroon-coloured flowers), Creme De Cassis (with raspberry-coloured flowers) and the Chater's Double (with striking double-flower blooms) While the stems of Alcea plants are known to make good firewood, the roots have been used for medicinal purposes. You can get wholesale cut flowers from Alcea plants at Astra Fund in a wide range of colours.