Alcea rosea
Are you look to infuse more aid - grabbing flowers into your garden ? Then hollyhocks are perfect for you .
grow and caring forA. roseais easy . Their heyday make impressive displays , and they ’re also exceptional pollinator industrial plant .
arresting addition to the garden ; they can reach nine foot tall when in flower !
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Their large , dark-green , scalloped or rounded leaves can be inconspicuous in the garden , but these plants are remarkably sensational when they ’re in bloom , in a wide-eyed range of usable colors .
The large flower make for a complete landing place for bumblebee , which add to the whimsical character that hollyhocks bring to a garden . Hummingbirds and butterflies are also draw to the blooms .
Mixing flower colors creates a cheerful palette , while selecting a specific people of color makes for an beguiling and salient display .
Interplanting them with various varieties of taller flowers is another style to create an centre - catching and telling intro in your garden .
When selecting a variety of hollyhock , you ’ll have two blossom type option .
It ’s important to remember that if you want pollinators to enjoy this plant life , choosing a change with unmarried rather than double heyday is near . Although appealing to us , the special petals make it hard for pollinators to reach the flower ’s nectar .
As if they could n’t be more magical , once you embed hollyhocks in your garden , theywill reseedand continue to return every season . you may leave the seeded player pod on the flower stalks to ego sow or collect and salve them for the next season .
Along with being an attractive choice to bring to a flower garden , hollyhocks also offer play crafting opportunities , from making sprite dolls to natural botanic dyeing .
Learn about their chronicle and how to plant and tend to them in your garden in this guide .
What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
Propagation
How to Grow
cultivar to pick out
Maintenance
Pests and Disease
Best Uses
The common hollyhock , Alcea rosea , is a flowering biennial or short - live on perennial that belong to the Malvaceae industrial plant family line .
These plants have a long blossom season and can live for a few old age in Zones 3 to 9 if you cut back the flower haunt after flower fade .
Common name(s):Hollyhocks
Plant eccentric : Biennial or short - lived recurrent bloom
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):3 - 10
Native to : Asia
bloom of youth sentence : Summer
pic : Full Sunday
Soil type : Fertile , loamy , well draining
ground pH:6.0 - 8.0 , slightly acidic to alkaline
Spacing : 2 - 3 metrical unit
Planting profoundness : Soil surface ( seeds ) , depth of root bollock ( transplants )
fledged size:2 - 4 feet wide x 3 - 9 feet high
Water indigence : restrained
Taxonomy
Order : Malvales
Family : Malvaceae
Genus : Alcea
Species : Rosea
Cultivars : Various
This species of althaea is said to be aboriginal to Asia . Its common name comes from the terminal figure “ holy hoc ” or “ holy mallow , ” referring to the terra firma from whence they were first preface to Europe , which was most likely somewhere in Palestine .
By the mid-1500s , hollyhocks made their direction to Europe through Britain , becoming democratic thanks to the color they brought to stark landscapes . Today , they are acottage gardenstaple .
With the number of hollyhocks we see get now , it ’s hard to believe a fungus once threatened their polish . However , in 1869 , a rust disease spread to Europe and was so destructive that citizenry stopped growing them .
By 1891 , hollyhocks made their way back into garden when plantsman begin developing improved variety that were resistant to disease .
Propagating hollyhocks from source is easy . But if you want to get a head starting time , you may also buy seedling or potted nursery plant life for transplant .
From Seed
mature althaea from seed is the proficient means to propagate this plant life . To encourage sprouting , soak the seeds overnight in warm weewee before sow .
Since the vulgar althea is a biennial , determine when to sow seeds in your climate is important .
In warmer region , you may sow seeds outdoors during late summertime or early fall for flowers the following summer . Those in colder climate can pop seeded player outdoors after the last hoarfrost , with flowers seem in the second year , during early summer .
When plant alfresco :
In colder climate , you’re able to also opt to start seeds indoors to get a question start on the growing time of year and to ensure they have enough clock time to grow before colder temperatures arrive .
protrude your seeds six to eight weeks before the last frost if sowing indoors .
scantily cover your seminal fluid and keep them in a well - lit place while maintaining soil wet and a soil temperature of 70 to 75 ° F . Seedlings should appear in 10 to 14 days . Keep them moist until transplanting time .
Transplanting
Early spring is the skilful sentence to transplant hollyhock seedling or baby’s room starts , a few weeks after the last frost . Once seedling have their truthful leave of absence , they are ready to be transplanted .
If you grow your seedlings indoors or in agreenhouse , you will have to season them off by taking them outside for a few hour every day for a week before transplant , for increase amounts of sentence each 24-hour interval .
Established nursery plant can be transplanted in the fall once the weather cools down .
New plantings may ask protective covering from direct sunlight , which you may provide with a shade cloth .
pick out a location along a rampart or fence can help oneself to provide reinforcement and shelter from confidential information .
Hollyhocks are n’t difficult to grow , but they do have a few quirks that can make the difference between a towering showstopper and a founder - over mess .
Once they ’re established , they ’ll lend vertical drama and old - fashioned charm to any garden .
have ’s plunk into the essential requirements to keep your hollyhocks healthy and blossom profusely .
Light
Hollyhocks thrive in full Sunday . They postulate at least six hours of direct sun daily to bloom at their good .
In cool climates , all - Clarence Shepard Day Jr. sun is ideal . In hot southern zones , they ’ll appreciate a little afternoon shade to forbid sear foliage and untimely wilting .
Soil
These formal plants favour rich , well - drain soil , but they ’re not terribly picky .
Aim for a loamy medium ameliorate with compost or aged manure before planting . This not only provides nutrients but also improves drainage , which is especially important in heavy stiff or compacted soils .
They tolerate a all-embracing range of soil pH ( 6.0 to 8.0 ) and are a proficient choice for those trying to rise in alkaline regions .
Temperature and Humidity
Hollyhocks are biennial or short - lived perennial that flourish in USDA Hardiness geographical zone 3 through 10 .
They can tolerate cool weather , even light frost , which helps trigger germination and flowering in 2d - year plants . But extreme high temperature and humidness can promote rust fungus and other fungal upshot .
allow near airflow by space works adequately and annul overcrowd to reduce humidity - related problems .
Water
piddle at least once a hebdomad to advance root exploitation . As the plant mature , the soil should be kept moist . If it feels dry one inch below the aerofoil , it ’s time to water supply .
ripe hollyhocks are more drought large-minded but will perform good with regular watering . void overhead watering to foreclose fungal diseases ; water system at the base of the plant instead .
Providing a thick stratum of mulch around plant helps to maintain wet . Be certain to spread it a couple of inch aside from the stems to allow for proper flow of air and discourage disease .
Fertilizer
If you ’ve enriched your dirt with compost , your althaea may not need extra feeding .
But to encourage prominent blooms , apply a balanced , slow - sacking fertilizer ( such as a granular 10 - 10 - 10 ) in early springiness and again midseason .
instead , compost will provide all the food your plants will need .
quash over - fertilizing , which can raise leaf ontogeny at the expense of flowers .
Container Growing
It ’s potential to farm hollyhocks in container , but it ’s not ideal .
These plants have deep taproot and grow tall — sometimes up to eight feet — so you ’ll call for a container that ’s at least 18 inches deep and very stable to prevent tipping over .
take nanus or compact varieties for better solution in pot . habituate a racy , well - draining potting mix and keep a close center on tearing needs , as containers dry out faster than garden beds .
The erstwhile - fashioned hollyhock feeling is still hope by many gardeners , even with the option to prefer the more spectacular petals that “ doubles ” crack .
Check with your local plant nursery to see if they transport althaea seedling or established industrial plant , since they are not a vernacular plant that you will see propose by all seller .
There are many popular motley of vulgar hollyhocks to choose from .
you may select a specific colour or go with a variety that do in a range of different hues like Country Romance Mix , a selection of true onetime - fashioned types in shades of rose , bloodless , maroon , yellow , and pink .
Country Romance Mix
works in large number of four areavailable from Burpee .
For something more dramatic , you could go with ‘ The Watchman , ’ a popular variety that has black flower with deep maroon step , or a two - toned purple - petaled hollyhock like ‘ Creme de Cassis . ’ Your selection of flower colouring material is immense !
‘ The Watchman ’
you could find ‘ The Watchman ’ seeds in 400 mg packetsavailable from Botanical Interests .
‘ Halo Apricot ’ is a smorgasbord that I ’d know to admit in my own garden because of the unique color of its flush , which are peach to knock with cherry red oculus .
Also , apricot variety are often only available as doubles , so it is nice to see a single selection in such a dreamy spook .
As the plant life grows , blossom stalk can profit from staking for living , particularly to help reward them during windy conditions .
To boost your plants to proceed to acquire and flower for several years , you shoulddeadhead the flowers .
Some gardener enjoy pull up stakes the flowers in office to go to seed to eat birds , and so they can reseed on their own .
If you find that a althea has ego - sown in an undesirable localisation , you could transplant voluntary seedling after they have developed their true leave but before the taproots develop importantly .
Transplanting establish althaea in fall is best , if you need to move them to a new localisation . But note that you will execute the risk of damage the delicate taproot when you dig into the earth to uproot the industrial plant .
After their summer bloom , cut back all remaining flower stalks at the foot and plan to transplant them on a mean solar day with temperature above 50 ° F . Early morning or evening are good times to transplant to prevent heat stress or drying out .
When the season cools down in mid to previous fall , cut back foliage and bloom stem to the crown and add together a few inch of mulch and compost over them tohelp them overwinter .
Common hollyhock are n’t particularly vulnerable to pests or disease , but they can have some issues .
Here are a few of the main 1 to count out for :
Pests
Disease
With consistent monitoring and straightaway action , these issues can be denigrate , let your althaea to thrive throughout the growing time of year .
Hollyhocks are pollinator - well-disposed plants that can help to complete your garden space . They make for a playfulness conversation piece and crafting sport for kids and adult .
They are stunning when placed in sweetness , and the flowers can also be made into cunning flower fairy dolls !
I ’ve had botanical dyer reach out to necessitate me if I could share some of myA. roseavar.nigraflowers with them to use .
The petal are a blue maroon colour that is very closemouthed to black , and when simmer in a batch , they release a natural dye that can be used to make beautiful shades of grim , gray , and purple .
Plant Hollyhocks for Picturesque Petals
hollyhock are my go - to whenever I require some show - hold on efflorescence thaumaturgy in the garden .
After reading about these stunning flowers , are you inspired to add some bungalow - garden ambiance to your outdoor blank ?
grow them in your garden is simple , and it supply an splendid experience for all gardeners . The big , gorgeous blooms create mesmerizing displays while attract diverse pollinators .
As a nurseryman who relish make unnecessary semen , I apprize how much seed one works can produce and savour saving and sharing these with friends . In increase , sharing seeds is a great way to join and discourse gardening with your community .
Looking for even moreflowering plantsthat will aid you to metamorphose your space into the pollinator - friendly bungalow garden of your dream ? see to it out these guide next :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally print April 16th , 2022 . Last updated : May 9th , 2025 . mathematical product photos via Arbico Organics , Botanical Interests , Burpee , and Grower ’s Ally Store . Uncredited photograph : Shutterstock .
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Kat Sanchez
