White Hollyhocks

These were photographed in the small town of Schierstein, a suburb of Wiesbaden, Germany.... more

by Sarah Loft

Title

White Hollyhocks

Artist

Sarah Loft

Medium

Photograph - Photograph With Added Texture

Description

These were photographed in the small town of Schierstein, a suburb of Wiesbaden, Germany.

Per Wikipedia: Alcea, commonly known as hollyhocks, is a genus of about 60 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae. They are native to Asia and Europe.

Hollyhocks are annual, biennial, or perennial plants usually taking an erect, unbranched form. The herbage usually has a coating of star-shaped hairs. The leaf blades are often lobed or toothed, and are borne on long petioles. The flowers may be solitary or arranged in fascicles or racemes. The notched petals are usually over three centimeters wide and may be pink, white, purple, or yellow. The fruit is a schizocarp, a dry disc divided into over 15 sections that contain seeds.

Hollyhocks are popular garden ornamental plants. They are easily grown from seed. Breeds with red flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Cultivars have been bred, especially from A. rosea. They include the double-flowered 'Chater's Double', the raspberry-colored 'Creme de Cassis', and 'The Watchman', which has dark, nearly black, maroon flowers.
The stems of hollyhocks can be used as firewood, and the roots have been used medicinally.

A hollyhock flower, known in Japan as aoi, was incorporated into the official seal (mon) of the Tokugawa shogunate in Japan, and through this influence has maintained importance in modern Japanese culture. For example, it inspired the name and symbol of Mito HollyHock, a professional soccer club in a city formerly led by the Tokugawa family. The Aoi Matsuri (Hollyhock Festival) is one of the three main festivals of the city of Kyoto.

Note: The water mark will NOT appear on the print you purchase.

Featured in the Flower Mania group, September 2015.

Featured in the Floral Photography and Art group, August 2017.

Featured in the Global Flowers Photography group, August 2017.

Featured in the Visions Of Spring - Glances Of Summer group, August 2017.

Featured in the 500 Views group, May 2019.

Uploaded

July 10th, 2015