Alcea rosea Chaters Double Jaune - Hollyhock

In a whirlwind of large, light yellow and vibrant pompons, the large, very double flowers of this hollyhock or Alcea rosea Chater's Double Yellow lovingly intertwine on a stem taller than a man. This generous flowering continues as long as summer lasts in sunny flower beds. Often perennial in the south of France, it proves to be more ephemeral in cooler climates, where it is often grown as a biennial that easily self-seeds wherever it pleases. This plant thrives sheltered from strong winds, in deep soil, even occasionally dry.

The hollyhock is also known by its Latin name Althaea rosea, and its vernacular names adopt all the accents of our regions: it is called Passe-rose, Rose à bâton, Rose papale or primerose. From the mallow family, it originates from Asia Minor and is often naturalized in natural gardens, fallow lands, and mounds of soil.

'Chater's Double Yellow' is a variety with very double flowers derived from this wildflower. It is an upright, generally unbranched plant that can reach a height of 2m (7ft) to 2.5m (8ft). It forms a rosette of rounded leaves with 5 or 7 lobes, from which a robust flower stalk emerges, with very rapid growth. These spike-like inflorescences are covered with large buds that open, staggered from June to August, and from the bottom to the top, into large ephemeral flowers with very double corollas whose texture wonderfully reflects light. They display a delightful hue, and their undulations seem woven from crepe. Throughout this period, they will attract bees and butterflies to your garden. The flowering gives way to numerous fruits filled with seeds that self-sow in the most unexpected areas, wherever it chooses: at the base of walls, in poor and rocky soils, crevices in walls, etc.

Widespread in abandoned gardens or fallow lands in our countryside, the hollyhock is often cultivated at the back of flower beds or against a wall that protects it from strong winds. The pale yellow pompons of this variety can be combined with dark or light, simple or double forms, against a wall or against a hedge of conifers. This plant is said to be tolerant to juglone, a substance secreted by walnut roots; its installation could be attempted at the base of this tree, if there is sufficient light, however. The hollyhock is an edible plant, the flower buds can be consumed raw in salads and the young leaves raw or cooked.

The hollyhock is both ornamental and medicinal. Its seeds are used to extract an oil with drying properties. Rich in mucilage, it has soothing, emollient, expectorant, laxative, and appetizing properties, albeit milder than those of its cousin, the Marshmallow (Althea officinalis) used by herbalists.