The tall-spiked flowers known as hollyhocks belong to the genus Alcea, which encompasses over 80 species in the mallow family, Malvaceae. Despite their widespread presence in gardens across North America and Western Europe, these plants are not native to those regions. The true origins of the hollyhock lie in a broad geographic area spanning parts of Asia and the southeastern edges of Europe, establishing the foundational species for all modern garden varieties.
The True Native Range of Hollyhocks
The natural home of the Alcea genus is primarily centered in Western and Central Asia, extending into the Mediterranean basin. This distribution includes regions often referred to as the Near East, with a high concentration of species found in modern-day Turkey and Iran. Many species thrive in the dry, harsh environments of these areas, including rocky slopes and arid steppe landscapes.
These plants are generally adapted to grow in open, unshaded habitats, often found in disturbed areas or on mountain slopes. The genus is well-represented throughout the Balkan Peninsula and across the Mediterranean coastlines. This vast native range across Eurasia explains the diversity within the genus, with species such as Alcea setosa still naturally occurring. Their ability to thrive in challenging, dry climates facilitated their later successful cultivation globally.
Distinguishing Wild Species from Cultivated Varieties
The towering, brightly colored flowers most people recognize as the common hollyhock are classified as Alcea rosea. This species is considered a cultigen, meaning its origin is likely due to ancient hybridization and selection by humans, and it is not found in a truly wild state today. While its ancestry points to Western Asia, its exact wild progenitor species remains debated among botanists.
The common garden hollyhock is distinct from the genuine wild species still found in their native habitats, such as the bristly hollyhock, Alcea setosa. Unlike the highly variable and often double-flowered A. rosea, wild species typically display more consistent, single-petaled flowers. Commercial growers have even noted that certain closely related wild species, like Alcea ficifolia, show resistance to the rust fungus that commonly affects the cultivated A. rosea.
Historical Migration and Global Spread
Hollyhocks were cultivated for both their ornamental beauty and medicinal properties in ancient Western Asian and Chinese gardens. The plant’s movement into Europe likely occurred between the 13th and 16th centuries, carried along established trade routes such as the Silk Road. Historical accounts also suggest that returning Crusaders may have introduced the plant to Europe from the Holy Land, where a mallow species was native.
By the mid-16th century, the common hollyhock was documented in England. European settlers then brought the seeds of Alcea rosea to North America during the colonial period in the 17th century. The plant’s hardiness and ability to readily reseed allowed it to become a staple in colonial and pioneer gardens, establishing its presence far from its original Eurasian home.