Alcalthaea: Crossing Hollyhocks with Other Mallows

x Alcalthaea suffrutescens, as the name kind of suggests, is a result of crossing Althaea, herbaceous perennials that include Althaea officinalis (the marsh mallow), with Alcea species (hollyhocks).

Now we’ve got that out of the way, we can relax and enjoy the floral fantasy they were creating outside one of the tea rooms at RHS Garden Bridgewater a few weeks ago.

Prettiness was the order of the day: mallow-style buds wrapped up in their beautiful green leafery; chalice-shaped young blooms; flat, frilly flowers with a ruffle in the centre. Their dreamy colours – cream, soft apricot and pink – were accented by the purple Verbena bonariensis.

I’d been in the same area a few months before and was impressed to see how the Alcalthaeas had transformed the border with their injection of height, abundance and cottage garden style.  

While these new Alcalthaea cultivars are supposed to be rust-free, some of my pictures suggest that’s a work in progress – but a worthy aim. 

Shared as part of Cee’s Flower of the Day.