althea: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Literary/Botanical
Quick answer
What does “althea” mean?
A flowering plant of the mallow family, particularly the genus Hibiscus syriacus (rose of Sharon) or the marshmallow plant (Althaea officinalis).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A flowering plant of the mallow family, particularly the genus Hibiscus syriacus (rose of Sharon) or the marshmallow plant (Althaea officinalis); also a female given name.
In gardening, an ornamental shrub valued for its summer blooms. In historical contexts, a plant used in herbal medicine. The name also appears in Greek mythology as the mother of Meleager.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'althea' may more commonly refer to the hollyhock relative (Althaea officinalis). In American English, it is often used for the rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), a common garden shrub.
Connotations
In the US, the name may be familiar from the Grateful Dead song 'Althea', giving it a countercultural association. In the UK, it is more likely a botanical or literary term.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both varieties; slightly higher in American gardening contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “althea” in a Sentence
[althea] + [bloom/flowers/grows][plant/prune] + [althea][althea] + [of/with] + [colour/species]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually unused.
Academic
Used in botanical, horticultural, or classical studies.
Everyday
Rare, except in gardening discussions or as a personal name.
Technical
Used in plant taxonomy and herbal medicine contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “althea”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “althea”
- Misspelling as 'altheia', 'althaea', or 'altheas'.
- Confusing it with 'azalea' or 'camellia'.
- Assuming it is only a name and not a plant.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes and no. The common garden althea (rose of Sharon) is a species of hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus). However, not all hibiscus plants are called althea.
Yes, Althea is a female given name of Greek origin meaning 'healer'. It is rare but used in English-speaking countries.
Althea shrubs prefer full sun, well-drained soil, and occasional pruning after flowering to maintain shape.
In botanical Latin, Althaea is the genus name for the marshmallow plant. 'Althea' is the common English spelling and can refer to that genus or to Hibiscus syriacus.
A flowering plant of the mallow family, particularly the genus Hibiscus syriacus (rose of Sharon) or the marshmallow plant (Althaea officinalis).
Althea is usually formal/literary/botanical in register.
Althea: in British English it is pronounced /ælˈθiːə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ælˈθiːə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Althea sounds like 'I'll see ya' near the beautiful flowering shrub.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALING/NOURISHMENT (from the medicinal use of marshmallow root and the name's Greek origin meaning 'healer').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a common name for an althea species?