# Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/plants/hollyhock · Updated: 2026-10-29
Source: Plant Guide (https://plantguide.ae/plants/hollyhock)

Hollyhock · خطمية وردية  
flower · exotic · family Malvaceae · grows 1.2–2.4 m tall, 0.3–0.6 m wide · fast growth  
full sun · moderate water need  
Ratings for Dubai (1–5, 5 is best): heat 2 · salt 2 · drought 2 · shade 2 · ease of care 3  
Sow or plant: Oct–Dec  
Uses: specimen, bedding  
Garden styles: manicured

## Also known as

- **English:** Common hollyhock, Hollyhocks, Garden hollyhock
- **Botanical synonyms:** *Althaea rosea*
- **Arabic (العربية):** خطمية وردية
- **Bengali (বাংলা):** পাতি হলিহক (Pati holihok)
- **Persian (فارسی):** ختمی معمولی (Khatmi-ye ma'muli)

Tall spires of silky, saucer-sized flowers: a cottage-garden giant that UAE sources list as a winter flower. Plant it in autumn, in full sun and with regular water.

## About

Meet the hollyhock, the flower that grows up rather than out. A single stem rises, often taller than a person, and opens a line of silky, crinkled saucers from the bottom up, in white, pink, red, apricot, yellow and a deep maroon that is nearly black. Round, felty leaves sit at the base, and in a Dubai garden the whole plant looks as if it was borrowed from an English cottage and set against a white villa wall.

It is old and unfussy. Wikipedia describes it as a biennial, annual or short-lived perennial that grows easily from seed, seeds itself freely and will grow in a wide range of soils, and NC State notes its rigid spikes do not require staking. That unfussiness is a good fit for sandy, low-organic ground, as long as the plant gets sun and regular water.

The mood is vertical and a little nostalgic. Plant a row against a wall or a fence and you get a living screen of colour that sways in the cool winter breeze. In Dubai it is a winter plant: Bayut and Property Pistol both name hollyhock among the UAE's winter flowers.

Alcea rosea belongs to the mallow family, Malvaceae, the same family as hibiscus, and Wikipedia says it came into Europe from south-western China in or before the fifteenth century. It can reach 2.4 metres. NC State gives 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.4 metres) tall and 1 to 2 feet wide, in purple, red, yellow, pink, white and orange. Its life cycle is flexible: Wikipedia calls it a biennial, an annual or a short-lived perennial, and it reseeds readily.

Dubai is not a hollyhock climate in summer. NC State says the leaves may wither in summer heat, and the plant flowers in June to August in North Carolina, so the Dubai flowering season is the cool half of the year, planted in the autumn. Property Pistol, a Dubai property site, says the tall plant has large, colourful flowers in the winter and requires full sun, and advises planting in the cooler months, such as October to April. Bayut also lists hollyhocks among the UAE's winter plants. Neither gives exact months, so the planting window on this page is our reading of the cool season.

NC State describes the soil it prefers as moist, well-drained sandy to clay loam rich in organic matter, which means compost and regular water in Dubai's sandy ground. It is susceptible to rust, leaf spot and anthracnose, and slugs, spider mites and beetles can attack it. Rust is the one to watch, as Wikipedia notes that foliage is subject to rust fungus. Shops across the UAE sell it: Plantshop.me lists 'Hollyhocks - Flowering - Outdoor Plants', and seed is on Noon and Amazon.ae.

## Through the year

Hollyhock's Dubai year is a winter one. Nursery plants and seedlings go in from October to December, planted in the evening and watered well while October's highs are still near 36 °C. Spires grow through December and January and flower from about January to April, when mean highs are between 24 and 34 °C. Rust and leaf spot are the risk in damp weather, and spider mites arrive as it warms. By May, with highs at 38.2 °C, the leaves wither and the plants are usually cleared; some gardens leave a few to set seed for the next cool season.

| When | What | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Oct–Dec | Plant: Cool-season planting window | Property Pistol advises planting in the cooler months, such as October to April. The months on this page are our reading, not a Dubai Municipality list. |
| Jan–Apr | Flowers: Spires of flowers in winter and early spring | Property Pistol and Bayut both name hollyhock as a UAE winter flower but give no exact months. |
| Jan–Apr | Pest watch: Rust, leaf spot and spider mites | NC State lists rust, leaf spot, anthracnose, slugs and spider mites; remove affected leaves and water at the base. |
| May–Sep | Heat stress: Leaves wither in the heat | NC State says hollyhock leaves may wither in summer heat. Dubai's mean high is 38.2 °C in May and 41.9 °C in August. |

## Care in Dubai

- **Watering in summer:** Not grown through a Dubai summer: the leaves wither in the heat and plants are cleared by May.
- **Watering in winter:** Water deeply two or three times a week at the base; the soil should be moist but well drained.
- **While establishing:** Water daily for the first week, then taper to two or three deep soakings a week; shade new plants for a few days if planted in a hot October spell.
- **Soil:** Moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter, as NC State describes; mix plenty of compost into Dubai's sandy ground.
- **Feeding:** Compost at planting and a balanced liquid feed every 3 to 4 weeks while the spires are growing.
- **Pruning:** Cut down the flower stem after flowering unless you want seed, and remove rusted leaves as soon as they show.
- **Planting:** Plant nursery seedlings from October to December, 30 to 60 cm apart (NC State gives a width of 1 to 2 feet), against a wall or fence in full sun; hollyhock resents root disturbance, so do not tease the roots apart.
- **Pests and problems:** Rust; Leaf spot; Spider mites; Slugs and snails
- **Toxicity:** The ASPCA lists hollyhock (Alcea rosea) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating any plant can still cause mild stomach upset.

## Good and bad

**Pros**
- Gives height and a vertical line that most Dubai bedding lacks
- Big silky flowers in a wide colour range
- Easy from seed and reseeds itself
- Listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses
- Rigid spikes that NC State says do not need staking

**Cons**
- Leaves wither in summer heat, so it is a winter plant here
- Rust, leaf spot and spider mites are common problems
- Needs steady water and organic matter in sandy ground
- Often a biennial: first-year plants may flower sparsely

## Common mistakes

- Planting it in the middle of a bed. At up to 2 metres it hides everything behind it; put it at the back or against a wall.
- Watering over the leaves. Rust and leaf spot are the main problems, so water the soil, in the morning.
- Leaving rusted leaves on the plant. Remove them at the first sign, before the spores spread to the next plant.
- Expecting it to survive summer. NC State says the leaves may wither in summer heat; plan on replanting each autumn.
- Letting sandy soil dry out. Hollyhock wants moist, organic soil; unamended sand needs compost and frequent water.

## Good to know

- Hollyhock belongs to the mallow family, Malvaceae, along with hibiscus and okra.
- Wikipedia describes it as a biennial, an annual or a short-lived perennial, and says it is easily grown from seed and reseeds itself.
- NC State describes the spikes as rigid and not needing staking, though in a windy spot a tie or a wall still helps.
- The ASPCA lists hollyhock (Alcea rosea) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses; any plant eaten in quantity may upset the stomach.

## Using it in a garden

Roles: Back-of-border spires, Living screen against a wall, Cut flowers, Cottage-style accent

Hollyhock belongs at the back of a bed, against a wall or fence where its height has a backdrop. Give it full sun, soil enriched with compost, and a drip line that keeps the root zone evenly moist. Plant in a row or a loose drift of three to five rather than singly, and put lower flowers in front to hide the bare lower stems and leaves. Clear the plants in May, or leave one or two to ripen seed.

- [Petunia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/petunia.md): Petunia covers the ground at the foot of the spires with trailing colour, and shares the same October planting window.
- [Snapdragon](https://plantguide.ae/plants/snapdragon.md): Snapdragon is a shorter spiky flower for the middle layer, in front of the hollyhock and behind lower bedding.
- [Zinnia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/zinnia.md): Zinnia fills the middle of the bed with rounder flowers and the same full-sun needs.
- [Marigold](https://plantguide.ae/plants/marigold.md): Marigold's compact orange mounds hide the bare lower stems of hollyhock in the front of the bed.

## FAQ

**When should I plant hollyhock in Dubai?**  
From October to December, in the cool season, so the plants grow through the coolest months and flower from about January. Property Pistol advises planting in the cooler months, such as October to April, and gives no exact months for hollyhock itself.

**Will hollyhock survive a Dubai summer?**  
Unlikely. NC State says the leaves may wither in summer heat, and Dubai's mean high passes 38 °C from May. Treat it as a winter plant and replant each autumn, or let a few go to seed.

**Why are my hollyhock leaves covered in orange spots?**  
Most likely rust, a fungal disease that NC State lists as a main problem for hollyhock. Remove affected leaves, water at the base in the morning and give the plants air.

**Does hollyhock need staking?**  
NC State says the rigid spikes do not require staking. In an exposed Dubai spot, a wall or fence behind it is still a sensible shelter.

**Is hollyhock safe for pets?**  
The ASPCA lists hollyhock (Alcea rosea) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating any plant can still cause mild stomach upset.

## Related plants

[Snapdragon](https://plantguide.ae/plants/snapdragon.md) · [Petunia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/petunia.md) · [Zinnia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/zinnia.md) · [Marigold](https://plantguide.ae/plants/marigold.md) · [Sunflower](https://plantguide.ae/plants/sunflower.md)

## Photos

![Tall hollyhocks with deep cerise flowers in a garden border](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/%27Alcea_rosea%27_Halo_Series_Hollyhock_Cerise_Henham_Essex_England.jpg)  
Photo: Acabashi / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:'Alcea_rosea'_Halo_Series_Hollyhock_Cerise_Henham_Essex_England.jpg))

![White and pink hollyhock flowers on a tall stem against a brick wall](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Alcea_July_2011-1.jpg)  
Photo: Alvesgaspar / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alcea_July_2011-1.jpg))

![Pink hollyhock flower spike with buds against a stone wall in Charente-Maritime](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Alcea_rosea%2C_Marsilly%2C_Charente-Maritime%2C_august_2015.jpg)  
Photo: Jebulon / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alcea_rosea,_Marsilly,_Charente-Maritime,_august_2015.jpg))

![Pink hollyhocks flowering at the edge of a lawn](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Alcea_rosea_141669517.jpg)  
Photo: goldfjnch / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alcea_rosea_141669517.jpg))

## Sources

- [NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Alcea rosea](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/alcea-rosea/)
- [Wikipedia: Alcea rosea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcea_rosea)
- [ASPCA: Hollyhock](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/hollyhock)
- [Kew WCVP, the checklist behind POWO (read via GBIF): Alcea rosea](https://www.gbif.org/species/207272289)
- [Arabic Wikipedia: خطمية (the genus Alcea)](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AE%D8%B7%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9)
- [Persian Wikipedia: ختمی معمولی](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AE%D8%AA%D9%85%DB%8C_%D9%85%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C)
- [Bengali Wikipedia: পাতি হলিহক](https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF_%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%95)
- [Property Pistol: Gardening in the Emirates, mastering the art of seasonal planting](https://www.propertypistol.com/blog/gardening-in-the-emirates-mastering-the-art-of-seasonal-planting)
- [Bayut: Which plants to grow in your garden in UAE summers and winters](https://www.bayut.com/mybayut/uae-garden-plants-summer-winter)
- [Wikipedia: Climate of Dubai (WMO 1991-2020 normals)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Dubai)
- [Plantshop.me: Hollyhocks - Flowering - Outdoor Plants (UAE shop listing, checked 2026-10-29)](https://www.plantshop.me/ae-en/product/hollyhocks)
- [Noon UAE: Hollyhock Alcea Rosea flower seeds (listing title, checked 2026-10-29)](https://www.noon.com/uae-en/fresh-100-pcs-double-hollyhock-alcea-rosea-flower-seeds-for-planting-dark-maroon-red/Z5872B5DA3C1284ACE643Z/p/)
- [Amazon.ae: Hollyhock Plant, Alcea Rosea (listing title, checked 2026-10-29)](https://www.amazon.ae/Hollyhock-Plant-Alcea-Rosea-White/dp/B0D4JRZ65Y)