DiseasemediumMay–Oct

Hollyhock rust

Puccinia malvacearum

This description was machine-translated.

How to spot it

Hollyhock rust is caused by the fungus Puccinia malvacearum and attacks hollyhocks, mallows, marshmallow and mallow grown as a vegetable. You recognise it by yellowish spots on the upper leaf surface, matched on the underside by orange brown spore pustules. Where the attack is severe the leaves dry up from the bottom upwards and drop early, so that the plant looks increasingly bare over the summer.

Prevention

Plant your hollyhocks and mallows airily and not too close together, so that the leaves can dry off quickly after rain or dew. Water at the base rather than overhead and avoid wet leaves in the evening. Collect infected leaves continuously and dispose of them with the household waste rather than on the compost, so that the spores do not spread further. A sunny, airy position and the choice of tougher varieties lower the risk of attack as well.