About Alcea rugosa Alef.
Alcea rugosa Alef., commonly called the Russian hollyhock, is a flowering plant species belonging to the mallow family Malvaceae. It is native to Ukraine, Crimea, southern European Russia, and the Caucasus. It has been introduced outside its native range as a garden escapee into the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Maryland. This species has resistance to Puccinia malvacearum rust, and is hardy to USDA zone 4.