Black hollyhock

Hollyhocks belong to the mallow family of plants and are predominantly found in the wild in temperate climate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. There are a total of 25 species within the mallow family, but in medicine, only the black flowers are used.

In Europe, these beautiful flowers have been known since the Middle Ages, and it is believed that they were introduced during the time of the Crusades from Asia Minor. In the wild, hollyhocks grow in Europe and Asia, including Asia Minor, Crete, and the Balkans, even in dry and rocky areas. This suggests that damp, low, and shaded corners of the garden are not suitable for them. In Latvia, hollyhocks have many names, including bone roses and bush roses. All of these are variations of the German name for these flowers - Stockrose.

Previously, black flowers were widely used to color wine pink or red. They were also used to dye sheep's wool. Different colors can be obtained in alkaline or acidic environments.

Tea made from black hollyhock petals helps with various lung diseases and coughs. Take a teaspoon of dried petals per glass of water and drink a tablespoon of it every hour.

Ear and throat ailments can also be treated with inhalations of tea made from black hollyhock petals. They can also be used to color other types of tea or beverages pink.

An excellent addition when creating potpourri mixtures.