Alcea rosea
Botanical Name
Alcea rosea
Hardiness
Zones 3 to 9
Height
2 to 9 feet
Width
1 to 2 feet
Flowers
Summer to fall: white thru every shade of yellow, pink, lavender, red, nearly black
Light
Full sun
Soil
Well-drained
Planting and Care
Sow seeds outdoors anytime from spring until 2 months before the first heavy frost for bloom the following year- do not cover the seeds, light aids germination, plants may need staking. Hollyhock flowers are edible, the white part at the base (calyx) of the flower is very bitter and should be removed before serving.
Problems
Anthracnose, rust (very common), leaf spot, spider mites, Japanese beetles
Varieties to Consider
'Nigra' - chocolate-maroon, almost black flowers, 5'
'Majorette' - double lacy flowers of apricot, rose, lavender, pink, lemon, and white, 24", AAS 1976
'Summer Carnival' - 4-5', double flowers in a wide range of colors, early bloomer
'Charter Double' Series - double flowers of reds, pinks, yellows, purples, and whites, 7'
'Majorette' - double lacy flowers of apricot, rose, lavender, pink, lemon, and white, 24", AAS 1976
'Summer Carnival' - 4-5', double flowers in a wide range of colors, early bloomer
'Charter Double' Series - double flowers of reds, pinks, yellows, purples, and whites, 7'
Did you know?
Considered a biennial or short-lived perennial, Hollyhocks easily self-seed and can establish themselves in the garden. This persistence can have them acting as if they were perennials.