Striped hollyhock Plant Care

Alcea striata Alef.

Updated · Sources · How we source care data

Alcea striata, the desert hollyhock, is a tall hollyhock plant native between Turkey and Saudi Arabia. It is found in rocky limestone slopes, fields, roadsides, scrub, and deserts, in the elevations 0–1200 m.

🌼Perennials
Water

Every 7–10 days

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Temp

60–80°F

Humidity

40–70%

At a glance

How do you care for Striped hollyhock?

Water Striped hollyhock every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 60–80°F (16–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.

What Is the Striped hollyhock?

Striped hollyhock (Alcea striata) belongs to the Malvaceae family within the Alcea genus. Striped hollyhock is native to rocky limestone slopes, fields, roadsides, scrub, and deserts, in the elevations 0–1200 m.

Striped hollyhock displays a tall, upright biennial or perennial growth habit, reaching up to 6 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Striped hollyhock produces large, showy blooms in various colors like pink, purple, yellow.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

How Often Should You Water a Striped hollyhock?

Alcea striata requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.

Watering Frequency

Every 7–10 days

Let soil partially dry between waterings

What Light Does the Striped hollyhock Need?

Striped hollyhock thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Light Requirement

Full sun to partial shade

What Temperature and Humidity Does the Striped hollyhock Prefer?

Alcea striata grows best at temperatures of 60–80°F. Striped hollyhock prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Temperature

60–80°F

Humidity

40–70%

What Soil Mix Works Best for a Striped hollyhock?

Well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Striped hollyhock to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

How Often Should You Fertilize a Striped hollyhock?

Feed Striped hollyhock every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.

Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.

Fertilizing

Every 6 months

During the growing season

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

How Do You Repot a Striped hollyhock?

Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.

How Do You Propagate a Striped hollyhock?

Striped hollyhock can be propagated through seeds, division of rootball. Similar propagation techniques also apply to alcea digitata plant care, which shares the same genus.

Is the Striped hollyhock Toxic to Pets and Children?

Pet safety not verified

The ASPCA does not list Striped hollyhock, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.

This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

What Pests and Diseases Affect the Striped hollyhock?

Striped hollyhock is susceptible to aphids, japanese beetles, caterpillars. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Striped hollyhock Need?

Striped hollyhock grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Striped hollyhock is native to rocky limestone slopes, fields, roadsides, scrub, and deserts, in the elevations 0–1200 m. In cooler regions, grow Striped hollyhock as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.

Hardiness Zone

Zone 13a

Keep exploring plants

Striped hollyhock is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.

It belongs to the Alcea genus — compare its care with other Alcea species on PlantoScan.

Alcea is part of the Malvaceae plant family — browse all Malvaceae genera and species.

Striped hollyhock thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.

More Alcea Species

Other Alcea species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:

Sources

  • Scientific name & taxonomy: Alcea striata Alef., family Malvaceae (first published in Oesterr. Bot. Z. 12: 252 (1862)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
  • Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Striped hollyhock, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
  • Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
  • Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.

Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.

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