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Herbal Glossary | Medicinal Glossary | Herbal Preparations | Ayervedic Formulas | Chinese Formulas HollyhockContents:Common Names | Parts Usually Used | Plant(s) & Culture | Where Found | Medicinal Properties
Scientific Names
Common Names
Parts Usually UsedFlowers
Description of Plant(s) and CultureHollyhock is a tall, usually biennial plant with palmately lobed leaves, a hairy stem, and large, showy flowers of various colors in elongated spikes. The stem bears both leaves and flowers along its length. Blooms from July to September.
Where FoundNative to India and southern Europe but widely cultivated as a garden plant for its flowers.
Medicinal PropertiesDemulcent, diuretic, emollient
Legends, Myths and StoriesThe fresh flowers were considered a culinary delicacy in old China. The dried flowers were much used as a tea by women in England and New England settlements. Every household had its stand of hollyhock plants, however, it is neglected in most modern gardens.
UsesTea made from the flowers helps soothe inflammation in the mouth and throat. A fomentation or vapor bath of the tea may be helpful for earache. A poultice applied to wasp or bee stings, or to draw out thorns, and splinters. Hollyhock flowers are used as an ingredient in various cosmetics.
Bibliography
Herbal Gardening, compiled by The Robison York State Herb Garden, Cornell Plantations, Matthaei Botanical Gardens of the University of Michigan, University of California Botanical Garden, Berkeley., Pantheon Books, Knopf Publishing Group, New York, 1994, first edition
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Althea rose
American Folk Medicine
, by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, 1973
, by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, copyright 1988, fifth printing, 1994Copyright © 1996-2010 Lynn DeVries, all rights reserved.