hollyhock

American  

[hol-ee-hok, -hawk] / ˈhɒl iˌhɒk, -ˌhɔk /

noun

1. any of several plants belonging to the genus Alcea (orAlthaea ), of the mallow family, native to Eurasia, especially A. rosea, a tall plant having a long cluster of showy, variously colored flowers.

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hollyhock British  

/ ˈhɒlɪˌhɒk /

noun

1. Also called (US): rose mallow.  a tall widely cultivated malvaceous plant, Althaea rosea, with stout hairy stems and spikes of white, yellow, red, or purple flowers

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Etymology

Origin of hollyhock

1225–75; Middle English holihoc, equivalent to holi holy + hoc mallow, Old English hocc

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hollyhock

The hollyhock pattern from House of Hackney appears throughout Weger’s apartment, even on this fabric lampshade.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

The pollen grains of various common plants like sunflower, morning glories, prairie hollyhock, oriental lily, evening primrose and castor bean — magnified 500 times and colorized in this image — display intricate patterns.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2022

It has a "sun-blistered green bench and tables ... shapely white windows" and a "row of upshooting hollyhock plants".

From The Guardian ● Jul. 8, 2010

The collection was festive in its mix of colors like iris purple, hollyhock yellow and a nowhere-in-nature turquoise.

From New York Times ● Jul. 5, 2010

Annie Oakley always made hers very homey, with a garden outside of primrose, geranium, and hollyhock.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson