See text Alcea is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks.

They include the double-flowered 'Chater's Double', the raspberry-colored 'Creme de Cassis', and 'The Watchman', which has dark, nearly black, maroon flowers.

The mallow flea beetle (Podagrica fuscicornis) is a pest that makes tiny holes in the leaves.

Cutworms, aphids, and capsid bugs use the plant as a food source in hotter and drier conditions.

[5] A number of weevils use A. rosea as their host plant, including Rhopalapion longirostre, Alocentron curvirostre, and Aspidapion validum.