There is another plant, looks like a hollyhock in all respects, similar leaves flowers and seed. But it only grows about a foot tall and the leaves and flowers are the size of one's thumbprint.

It is in the Sunset Wester garden book. But I have forgotten the name and can't find it again.

Anyway, it will grow in these ancient lakebeds in north central Nevada with their heat and salt.

Albert, is it Sphaeralcea? There are some really wonderful species and varieties, some tall, some short, some pink, red, orange...

They are very tough.

Lisa

Hollyhocks are part of a LARGE family also including chickweed. The family IS tough. My hollyhocks suffer in the full summer sun in Phoenix. With some shade and enough water they thrive year round here. They have a good taproot and are drought tolerant but do like water.

The pictures of Sphaeralcea sure look like the plant that I see growing around here but it is not in my old Sunset Western Garden book. Perhaps the spelling or name has changed since I got the book in the late '60s. Or perhaps there is yet another plant that looks like the pictures at images.google. Or perhaps I was wrong and it was never in the book.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sphaeralcea

I found it. Sphaeralcea were once called mallow or malva.

Anyway, try them for your gardening in Nevada.