hollyhock

species: Alcea rosea

common name: hollyhock

family: Malvaceae

 where & when encountered: Salinas, CA - 2012

Specifically this variety is called "nigra" or "Danish Black" hollyhock. It was pleasant to discover them growing alongside our house; the stalks get between six and ten feet tall. Hollyhocks were introduced to Europe from Asia over five hundred years ago and the original English name for them was "holyoke".