Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) are a preferred old style flower that when adorned flowerbeds throughout rural America. These showy flowers are making a comeback as gardeners embrace reviving America’s previous and revel in re-creating these conventional flowerbeds of the previous. These hardy biennials are wealthy in symbolism and on this information, I’ll take you thru their inherent that means within the language of flowers.
Hollyhocks Symbolism – Key Takeaways
Within the language of flowers, hollyhocks symbolize the circle of life, ambition, fertility, and abundance. Historically, they had been planted close to the entrance door of houses to welcome prosperity. Egyptians ceaselessly positioned wreaths of hollyhocks with the mummified to assist them of their journey to the afterlife.
Etymological Which means
Conventional sources say the hollyhock derives its identify from the Outdated English phrase holi that means holy, and hoc that means mallow, however different explanations are price contemplating. In line with legend, the hollyhock obtained its identify as a result of it was introduced from the Holy Land.
As well as, the Crusaders used hollyhocks to make a salve to deal with accidents on their horses’ hind legs, known as hocks. The identify “Hollyhocks” is believed to be a fusion of “Holy,” paying homage to the sacred Holy Land, and “hock,” a nod to its reputed therapeutic powers for the hind legs of horses.
Hollyhocks Which means & Symbolism
The hollyhock symbolizes the circle of life, ambition, fertility, and abundance. Apparently, the colour of the flower can even have an effect on the intrinsic that means and symbolism of the hollyhock within the language of flowers:
Crimson Hollyhock Flower Which means:
A crimson hollyhock symbolizes, like many crimson flowering vegetation a deep symbolic reference to love, romance, and fervour.
Purple Hollyhock Flower Which means:
A purple hollyhock represents attraction and style however can even symbolize a transition. Purple is usually a regal colour, symbolic of royalty, custom, and standing.
White Hollyhocks Flower Which means:
Like many conventional symbolic connections to white flowers, a white hollyhock symbolizes innocence, purity, honesty, and fertility.
Pink Hollyhocks Flower Which means:
A pink hollyhock symbolizes sensitivity, love, and thoughtfulness.
Yellow Hollyhocks Flower Which means:
A yellow hollyhock symbolizes friendship, belief, and respect.
The Cultural Significance of Hollyhocks
Through the Victorian Instances, hollyhocks had been grown to hide the outhouse. Not solely did they make the world extra engaging, however additionally they ensured the women of the day didn’t have to ask for the situation of the outhouse, saving them embarrassment in public.
In historical Egypt, they laid to relaxation mummies with hollyhock wreaths, believing that these floral adornments would information them on their journey via the afterlife.
Within the enchanting world of mysticism, hollyhock flowers had been whimsically considered the skirts worn by flower fairies, with the seed head incomes the pleasant nickname “fairy cheese” attributable to its resemblance to a beneficiant wheel of cheese.
The clever mixing of hollyhock flowers, wild thyme, marigolds, and hazel flowers yielded a concoction believed to bestow upon people the paranormal skill to glimpse into the realm of fairies.
Appropriate Gifting Events
Hollyhocks are an acceptable present for housewarmings, promotions, graduations, and birthdays. Embrace the colourful custom of passing on hollyhock vegetation from somebody’s backyard, infusing the circle of life with blessings of excellent luck and abundance for the recipient.
Wrap Up
Hollyhocks are harking back to cottage or kitchen gardens and could be extremely endearing if handed on from technology to technology. What’s extra, they’re additionally wealthy in that means and symbolism conveying sentiments of life, ambition, fertility, and abundance within the language of flowers.
Andrew is the Editorial Director at Petal Republic. He holds a BSc diploma in Plant Sciences and has educated professionally at main floristry colleges in London and Paris. In amongst overseeing a world editorial crew, Andrew’s a passionate content material creator round all issues flowers, floral design, gardening, and houseplants.
