Alcea

The genus Alcea includes about 60 species of perennial or biennial tall resistant grasses, very interesting from an ornamental point of view. The leaves are whole or finger-lobed. The flowers are large, of various colors, in a spike-shaped brush. Alcea, called mallow, is very similar to the mallow proper; the plants are close from a botanical point of view. Alcea ficifolla is a perennial species up to 2 m high, with palm-dissected leaves in the lower part, and lanceolate leaves in the upper part. The flowers that bloom in summer are simple, large yellow or bright orange, collected in long terminal spike-shaped inflorescences. This luxuriant plant was crossed with the rose Alcea, and the resulting hybrids almost completely replaced the original botanical species. A. rosea is an ornamental plant of gardens and parks, a perennial species that can grow up to 3 m in height. In culture, only its garden forms and varieties are used. It has pubescent strong straight stems with regular rough heart-shaped toothed pubescent leaves of 5-7 lobes. In the lower part of the plant, they are large, above they become smaller. The flowers are large (up to 15 cm in diameter), simple or double, various shades of pink spectrum, white, yellow, red, dark purple, black and red, collected in huge inflorescences (up to 150 flowers). There are several varieties: black (A.r. var. nigra) with velvety black and red flowers; semi-double (A.r. var. semiplene) - with various colors of flowers; double (A. r. var. flore pleno hort.) - the most decorative. One of the cultivars, "Terry Cheter", has double flowers, very large, resembling peony flowers. Usually they sell mixtures (seeds of plants characterized by differently colored flowers) or separately-varieties with flowers of the same color.

The genus Alcea includes about 60 species of perennial or biennial tall resistant grasses, very interesting from an ornamental point of view. The leaves are whole or finger-lobed. The flowers are large, of various colors, in a spike-shaped brush. Alcea, called mallow, is very similar to the mallow proper; the plants are close from a botanical point of view.

Alcea ficifolla is a perennial species up to 2 m high, with palm-dissected leaves in the lower part, and lanceolate leaves in the upper part. The flowers that bloom in summer are simple, large yellow or bright orange, collected in long terminal spike-shaped inflorescences. This luxuriant plant was crossed with the rose Alcea, and the resulting hybrids almost completely replaced the original botanical species.

A. rosea is an ornamental plant of gardens and parks, a perennial species that can grow up to 3 m in height. In culture, only its garden forms and varieties are used. It has pubescent strong straight stems with regular rough heart-shaped toothed pubescent leaves of 5-7 lobes. In the lower part of the plant, they are large, above they become smaller. The flowers are large (up to 15 cm in diameter), simple or double, various shades of pink spectrum, white, yellow, red, dark purple, black and red, collected in huge inflorescences (up to 150 flowers).

There are several varieties: black (A.r. var. nigra) with velvety black and red flowers; semi-double (A.r. var. semiplene) - with various colors of flowers; double (A. r. var. flore pleno hort.) - the most decorative. One of the cultivars, "Terry Cheter", has double flowers, very large, resembling peony flowers.

Usually they sell mixtures (seeds of plants characterized by differently colored flowers) or separately-varieties with flowers of the same color.

Cultivation

Alcea is grown outdoors in the open ground more often as a biennial. The plant is not demanding to the growing conditions, it develops better on well-fertilized sandy loam and loamy soils. When planting, apply organic fertilizers (10 kg/m2) or mineral fertilizers with a reduced nitrogen content (20-30 g/m2). In the spring, they are fed with a full mineral fertilizer. When sown in June, the Alcea forms a rosette of leaves, and blooms in a year. When sown early in a greenhouse (in early May), it blooms in the year of sowing. Use in flower beds in groups, rows along fences, hedges and walls, in mixborders, for cutting.

Alcea is grown outdoors in the open ground more often as a biennial. The plant is not demanding to the growing conditions, it develops better on well-fertilized sandy loam and loamy soils. When planting, apply organic fertilizers (10 kg/m2) or mineral fertilizers with a reduced nitrogen content (20-30 g/m2). In the spring, they are fed with a full mineral fertilizer. When sown in June, the Alcea forms a rosette of leaves, and blooms in a year. When sown early in a greenhouse (in early May), it blooms in the year of sowing. Use in flower beds in groups, rows along fences, hedges and walls, in mixborders, for cutting.

Location

Light-loving plant, ideal location - in the open sun.

Temperature

These plants are resistant to both high and low air temperatures. If the winter is very cold, the soil around the cut stems (in the fall leave 15 cm each) of perennial and biennial species is mulched with straw and leaves.

Watering

Alcea is a drought-resistant crop, but requires abundant watering during droughts and hot, dry winds.

Care

Remove damaged dried leaves and wilted flowers.

Reproduction

Propagate by sowing seeds directly in the open ground, in a permanent place. Usually, seeds are sown in 3-4 pieces per well. Seedlings are thinned out, leaving one seedling at a time. It can be propagated by dividing the bush 2 months before the onset of constant frosts.

Diseases

Rust is recognized by the presence of pustules on the leaves, first bright orange, then brown. These damages are irreversible. It is necessary to treat plants that are not yet affected with copper-containing antifungal drugs. Viral infections cause mosaics and yellowing of the leaves. Infected plants are removed. The stems are affected by larvae of apionid leaf beetles, which are disposed of with appropriate insecticides.

Acquisition

Alcea seeds can be found at any retail outlet specializing in the sale of plants. In the spring, the most well-supplied gardening centers and flower nurseries have seedlings. Choose compact plants without signs of rot or rust.