Anyone want to start a GTS Hollyhock landrace (Alcea rosea & + other interspecies crosses)?
We domesticate Hollyhocks not just for beauty for the edibility too!
Apparently different flowers colors have different flavors (More noticeable when dried) with the black color having the best tasting sweet marshmallow flavor!
The seeds are also edible and can be used like a pseudo grain. Maybe we can select for bigger seeds? the husk doesn’t seem to get in the way too much.
The tender leaves are edible but the mature ones have a rough sand-paper texture, Common Weedy Mallows like that of Malva neglecta seem to be better suited for edible leaves. However I think it’s totally possible to landrace hollyhocks for better leaf texture. The youngest Hollyhock leaves are nice without a texture issue. Flavor is nice typical mucilaginous mallow flavor.
The Flower & Fruit buds are similar to Okra or like a bigger version of Mallow Cheese wheels (A fun little wild edible foraging treat, but just bigger). Makes me wonder how big we can domesticate these little cheese wheels (In shape not cheese-like flavor).
The roots are also apparently edible, relatively big, easy to dig out and have a similar flavor to carrots but more spongey & easier to cook. This makes sense because Hollyhocks are very closely related to True Marshmallows (Althea officinalis). In fact, Alcea and Marshmallow are sister genera. Check this Phylogenic tree.
This makes me think, are hollyhocks pretty much a bigger more beautiful version of the marshmallow plant? It would interesting to explore crossing & grafting both of them.
Anyone growing Hollyhocks or Marshmallows? maybe we can generate enough excitment to jump start a community landrace! The Potential for hollyhocks are HUGE! Sadly so much of it is overlooked, like a crop everyone just sleeps on.