Hollyhock
Alcea rosea (Althaea rosea). MALVACEAE.
Planting and Growing Hollyhock
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow hollyhock in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of hollyhock
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for hollyhock
- Season of bloom and planting time for hollyhock
- When, how deep, and where to plant hollyhock
- How to plant hollyhock
- Watering, fertilizing, care and pests or diseases of hollyhock
- Landscape and container uses of hollyhock
- Comments about hollyhock and its features
Growing Hollyhock
Upright, narrow biennial herb, to 9 ft. (2.7 m) tall. Textured, green, round leaves, 6–8 in. (15–20 cm) wide, forming a circular, radiating base.
Widely available cultivars include Alcea rosea ‘Chater’s Double’, a double-flowered perennial and dwarf forms.
While a true bienennial that flowers in its second season, several cultivars also have first-year blooms.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Showy, maroon, pink, red, white, yellow, saucer-shaped flowers, to 4 in. (10 cm) wide, opening upward along the stalk, in summer–autumn.
Best Climates
Hardy. Zones 2–10.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained soil. Fertility: Average. 7.0–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring for annual-performing cultivars; late summer for biennial-performing cultivars in full sun to partial shade; 12 in. (30 cm) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep evenly moist. Stake. Protect from wind. Cut stalks after flowers fade. Transplant second-season seedlings in spring. Propagate by division, seed.
About This Plant
ormal, natural, wildlife gardens. Attracts birds, hummingbirds. Slug, snail and rust susceptible.