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Plant Identification Help

 
pollinator
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Location: Central TX
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I had this mystery plant growing in my vegetable garden. I am unsure if it was a seed I planted in a previous season and forgot about or just some random volunteer. At first it looked kind of like a squash to me, then like okra, and now that it flowered I have no idea. Can anyone help me ID it?
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pink double flowered hollyhock
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gardener
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Location: SW VT, sandy loam, valley, zone 5a
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That looks very much like a volunteer ornamental, double-petalled hollyhock. I don’t know Texas flora so you may want to double check. Like most mallows the young growth is edible.
 
steward
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I agree, hollyhocks!  I am envious!
 
gardener
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yep, hollyhock!
 
Rebecca Blake
pollinator
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Maieshe Ljin wrote:That looks very much like a volunteer ornamental, double-petalled hollyhock. I don’t know Texas flora so you may want to double check. Like most mallows the young growth is edible.



If it's of the mallow family, is it medicinal like mallow?

I honestly know nothing about hollyhock nor why one would be envious of it volunteering in my vegetable garden! Still glad I left it and let it grow to maturity :)
 
Rebecca Blake
pollinator
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I just realized, we got flower seeds from someone a year ago and I think it may had included hollyhock. I personally didn't plant any but my 5 year old can sometimes go rogue and do whatever so maybe she planted it here!

Considering I'm not growing much of anything this year... she's a better gardener than me lately lol
 
Anne Miller
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according to Plants For A Future hollyhocks are both edible and medicinal:

Young leaves - raw or cooked. A mild flavour, but the texture leaves something to be desired. They have been used as a pot-herb, though they are not particularly palatable. They can also be chopped up finely and added to salads. Inner portion of young stems - raw. Flower petals and flower buds - raw. Added to salads. A nutritious starch is obtained from the root. A refreshing tea is made from the flower petals



https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Alcea+rosea
 
pollinator
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Location: Massachusetts, Zone:6/7 AHS:4 GDD:3000 Rainfall:48in even Soil:SandyLoam pH6 Flat
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I saw the flowers and thought hibiscus, and leaves and thought okra. 100% in the mallow family.
Is there any poisonous mallow family plant? I don't really think that there is. I wonder what the holly flowers taste like in a salad.
 
I think she's lovely. It's this tiny ad that called her crazy:
turnkey permaculture paradise for zero monies
https://permies.com/t/267198/turnkey-permaculture-paradise-monies
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