7 types of Alcea and their care

Moose are herbaceous plants

The species of the genus Moose They are herbaceous plants that you have probably been able to see on some occasion in a field or similar. They are very adaptable, in fact they do not need much to grow, and neither to flourish; However, when they want to grow they can give the feeling that they are a bit difficult to maintain, especially if they are seedlings.

But once they start to have real leaves and gain height, their maintenance becomes easy. The most interesting thing is that, depending on the variety, its flowers are of one color or another. So you will always have the option of creating a multicolored floral composition, something that will undoubtedly beautify your garden, or the patio if you decide to have them there.

7 types of Alcea

Alcea acaulis

View of the Alcea acaulis

Image – Wikimedia / Sf2000

The Alcea acaulis It is a biennial herbaceous plant native to the Mediterranean region, where it grows in forests, bushes and steppes. Unlike other species, the stem is barely distinguishable (that is why it is called acaulis), since it is very short. It blooms from March to May in the Northern Hemisphere, producing pink, purple, or white flowers.

alcea heldreichii

The alcea heldreichii It is an herb native to Europe, about which there is not much information. The only thing we can say is that it is a threatened species, and that its flowers are pale pink.

pale alcea

View of the Alcea pallida

Image – Wikimedia / Krzysztof Golik

The pale alcea it is a species native to southwestern Europe. It lives for several years, and can reach a height of 180 centimeters. Its leaves have a silver underside, a characteristic that makes it a very beautiful plant. As to its flowers are salmon-pinkand sprout from May to September in the northern hemisphere.

alcea rosea

View of the Alcea rosea

Image – Wikimedia Commons / Buendia2

The alcea rosea it is one of the best known species, perhaps the most well-known, in Europe. It is native, not only from this continent, but also from America, Asia and Australia. It is a biennial herb (it lives for two years) that reaches a height of 2 meters. Its flowers are up to 10 centimeters in diameter, and are red, purple, white, pink, yellow, or black-purple.

The scientific name Alcea ficifolia Is synonymous with a. rosea.

Uses

It has been used medicinally, in particular its flowers, for being emollients, expectorants, and also for being a good remedy for constipation. On the other hand, from its petals dyes are extracted for wine especially.

Rough moose

View of the Alcea rugosa

Image – Wikimedia Commons / Michael Wolf

The Rough moose it is a biennial plant native to Europe. It can reach an approximate height of 2 meters, and blooms in summer. Its flowers are yellow, large, with stems covered by “hairs”.

It should be noted that it resists rust, and that it can be planted near and / or under walnut trees, since it has been shown to tolerate the toxic juglone emitted by its roots.

Silky moose

Alcea setosa has pink flowers

Image – Wikimedia / Eli Zahavi

The Silky mooseknown as ruffled hollyhock, is a biennial herbaceous plant native to Crete, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. It reaches a height of 70-100 centimeters, and its flowers are pink. These appear in spring (from April to June), and appear in great numbers.

striated alcaea

View of the Alcea striata

Image – Wikimedia / K. Alon.

The striated alcaea It is a plant native to the eastern Mediterranean to the Arabian Peninsula. It can grow up to 70-80 centimeters in height, and its flowers are white.

Caring for the moose

We have seen the best known species, but now we have to know what care we must give them so that they are well. So let’s get to it:

Location

These plants they must be in sunny areas. Don’t be afraid that it will hit them directly – they need it! In this sense, they are like sunflowers: when they lack light … their stems fall, they stop producing flowers, and they weaken. For this reason, it is not a good idea to have them indoors either.

Earth

  • Flower pot: you can put a substrate for plants, the universal one, although we recommend mixing it with 30% perlite in case it doesn’t have one. Hollyhocks cannot stand waterlogging.
  • the garden: the earth, as long as the water drains well, will be correct.

Irrigation

During spring and especially in summer you have to water from time to time. We have said that we must avoid waterlogging, but it is also important that the soil does not remain dry for too long. Therefore, if you have doubts, there is nothing better than checking the humidity with a wooden stick for example.

If you have it in a pot, do not put a plate under it to prevent the water from stagnating.

Subscriber

Alcea are herbaceous plants

In full growth and flowering season it is highly advisable to fertilize them with a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants, like this one they sell here!. Follow the instructions for use to know what dose to take, and how often to apply it.

Multiplication

The Alcea multiply by seeds in spring-summer. These you have to sow them preferably in a seedling tray (for sale here!), since by having different alveoli you will be able to control much better how many germinate and when.

Fill it with substrate for seedlings (you can get it by clicking on this link), put a maximum of 2 seeds in each socket, and cover them with a thin layer of soil. Then, put the seedling in the sun, and keep the substrate moist.

Thus, will germinate in about ten days. When they do, leave the seedlings in that seedbed until the roots come out of the drainage holes, at which point you can plant them in pots or in the garden.

Pruning

With clean scissors you can remove the dried stems and the flowers that are wilting.

Rusticity

It depends on the species, but in general they resist moderate frosts of up to -12ºC.

What do you think of the Alcea?

7 types of Alcea and their care

Leave a Reply

Scroll to top

Discover more from DIY Gardens

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading