My hollyhocks still have a few lovely flowers clinging to the tall stem and they have been blooming since August.

I planted them in a burm that does not have the best soil in the world yet they have rewarded me threefold.

I did give them a hand watering most mornings and though they need only a modicum of water they will be showier if you give them a bit more.

They like the sunshine and tolerate shade.

Hollyhocks tall spikes of flowers attract bees and other important pollinators. They are also a wonderful flora to grow at the back of flower beds or in front of a fence.

Hollyhocks (Althaea rosa) with their lovely pastel spikes of flowers are a subspecies of the marshmallow, Althaea officinalis and they have many of the same healing properties.

Althaea is from the Greek verb althane, which means to heal. Both plants are from the Malvaceae family, which again comes from the Greek word for soft or soothing: malakos.

Mallow flowers are interesting as well as pretty and have a habit of following the sun. This trait so impressed the ancient Pythagorean philosophers they considered the plant holy.

To them the flower was seen as a symbol of moderation and represented the control of human passions; both of which were considered necessary achievements in order to attain wisdom and health. Funnily enough, the symbol for sweetness and mildness was also mallow because of its sugary flavor and smooth texture.

There is a bit of a story behind the name hollyhock, which originated in England.

It was the practice there to use the leaves to treat the swollen heels of horses; because of this custom it became known as hock-leaf.

For some reason the English people believed the flower came from the Holy Land, and so it was soon called Holyhock, which developed into hollyhock.

The flowers actually originated in China where they are a symbol of fruitfulness; they were imported into England in the 16th century.

In Victorian England and the language of flowers, the Hollyhock ruled by Venus, was seen as a symbol of female ambition.

Although this was not a popular view at the time, because of the flowers’ beauty and their ability to grow in almost any soil, hollyhocks started to show up in almost every English garden. (Who knows, this pretty symbol growing happily in cottage gardens might have subliminally triggered the suffragette movement.)

Hollyhock leaves can be applied to insect bites as well as wasp and bee stings. They also soothe scalds and burns. In the past leaves were used to treat bruises and sprains as well as joint and muscular pains.

Tip: To keep pets off seedlings poke in bamboo skewers over the area, the sharp little spikes will keep cats from scratching and dogs from digging.

Trivia: A confection made in France from the mallow was the inspiration for the popular marshmallow we know now, but there is no trace of the plant in today’s commercial product; and yes marshmallow plants (Althaea officinalis) grow on the edges of salt and freshwater marshes.

Superstition: Women can wear or carry hollyhocks to feel more independent.

Questions or comments? Contact Pam Templmayr at whalebonestudiio@embarqmail.com