Hollyhocks Bring Wildlife and Old-Fashioned Beauty to the Garden
Tall spikes of dramatic flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds
Noelle Johnson
April 19, 2017
While they may be old-fashioned flowers, hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) definitely deserve a spot in today’s gardens due to their tall stature and large, colorful blooms. The flowering spikes can vary from 3 to 9 feet tall, depending on the variety, making them lovely background plants with shorter perennials and ground covers in front.
These flowering plants are biennials, meaning they produce leaves during the first year of growth and flowers in the second year. While they are short-lived, they reseed on their own, ensuring their presence in the garden for years.
These flowering plants are biennials, meaning they produce leaves during the first year of growth and flowers in the second year. While they are short-lived, they reseed on their own, ensuring their presence in the garden for years.
Botanical name: Alcea rosea
Common name: Hollyhock
Origin: Native to Asia
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 40 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 3; find your zone)
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun (at least six hours a day)
Mature size: 3 to 9 feet tall, depending on variety
Benefits and tolerances: Deer-resistant; fragrant; attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds
Seasonal interest: Flowers in spring in warmer zones and in summer in colder ones
When to plant: In spring from seed (after the last frost); in spring or fall from transplants
Common name: Hollyhock
Origin: Native to Asia
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 40 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 3; find your zone)
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun (at least six hours a day)
Mature size: 3 to 9 feet tall, depending on variety
Benefits and tolerances: Deer-resistant; fragrant; attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds
Seasonal interest: Flowers in spring in warmer zones and in summer in colder ones
When to plant: In spring from seed (after the last frost); in spring or fall from transplants
Distinguishing traits. Hollyhocks’ tall flowering spikes rise from a large clump of leaves, transforming the garden with color and height. The leaves are 6 to 8 inches wide and covered in fuzzy hairs. Growth during the first year produces foliage, which will support the flowering that happens the following year.
The second spring after planting, a thick, tall stem will grow up from the base, covered in smaller leaves and flower buds. Four-inch-wide flowers will then open, beginning at the bottom of the stem. As the lower flowers age and fall off, new flowers higher up on the flowering stalk will open. When you see a flowering hollyhock, you’ll notice that not all of the flowers on the stem are open at the same time, but rather a 2-foot section of blooms.
A hollyhock flower with a single row of petals
Hollyhock flowers come in a variety of colors, including white, red, pink, purple, yellow, peach and black. The flowers are either single (having a single row of petals), semidouble or double, with additional layers of petals for a fuller appearance.
Considered short-lived perennials, hollyhocks live a minimum of two years. However, cutting the long stalk off at the base once flowering ceases can sometimes extend the life span for another year or two.
Hollyhock flowers come in a variety of colors, including white, red, pink, purple, yellow, peach and black. The flowers are either single (having a single row of petals), semidouble or double, with additional layers of petals for a fuller appearance.
Considered short-lived perennials, hollyhocks live a minimum of two years. However, cutting the long stalk off at the base once flowering ceases can sometimes extend the life span for another year or two.
Faded flowers drop off, revealing black seeds.
Hollyhocks are started from seed or transplants, and once they flower and release their seeds, there will be no need to plant new ones, as there will always be new hollyhocks to take the place of older ones.
For areas that experience hard freezes, cut back hollyhocks to the ground in fall and cover them in a 4- to 6-inch layer of mulch to help protect them.
Hollyhocks are started from seed or transplants, and once they flower and release their seeds, there will be no need to plant new ones, as there will always be new hollyhocks to take the place of older ones.
For areas that experience hard freezes, cut back hollyhocks to the ground in fall and cover them in a 4- to 6-inch layer of mulch to help protect them.
A pink hollyhock with a double bloom
A few potential problems can affect hollyhocks. In humid climates, the fungal disease rust can infect the leaves, resulting in yellow spots on the top of the leaf and brown bumps on the underside.
To help prevent rust, remove infected leaves, make sure that there is good air circulation around the plant, water the base of the plant and not the leaves, apply a layer of mulch around each plant, cut the plants down at the end of the season and dispose of the leaves and stems. For those who love hollyhocks but have problems with rust, purchase them in bare-root form, which will be more more resistant to rust.
Insect pests such as weevils and spider mites can be controlled by applying insecticidal soap.
A few potential problems can affect hollyhocks. In humid climates, the fungal disease rust can infect the leaves, resulting in yellow spots on the top of the leaf and brown bumps on the underside.
To help prevent rust, remove infected leaves, make sure that there is good air circulation around the plant, water the base of the plant and not the leaves, apply a layer of mulch around each plant, cut the plants down at the end of the season and dispose of the leaves and stems. For those who love hollyhocks but have problems with rust, purchase them in bare-root form, which will be more more resistant to rust.
Insect pests such as weevils and spider mites can be controlled by applying insecticidal soap.
How to use it. Use hollyhocks in areas where a tall, vertical element is desired, such as against a porch pillar or flanking a window.
Plant them in the back of a planting bed with a combination of flowering perennials such as coneflower (Echinacea spp.), gaura (Gaura lindheimeri), lantana (Lantana spp.), shasta daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum) and South American mock vervain (Glandularia pulchella) in front.
Transform a garden shed or detached garage by planting a row of hollyhocks along the side. They can also look nice along a fence.
Plant them in the back of a planting bed with a combination of flowering perennials such as coneflower (Echinacea spp.), gaura (Gaura lindheimeri), lantana (Lantana spp.), shasta daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum) and South American mock vervain (Glandularia pulchella) in front.
Transform a garden shed or detached garage by planting a row of hollyhocks along the side. They can also look nice along a fence.
Planting notes. Plant in well-drained soil in a spot that receives at least six hours of sun daily. The soil should be moist, but not soggy.
You can plant hollyhocks from seed or transplants in spring after the last frost date. In zones 8 and above, you can plant in fall. When sowing the seed, add only one-quarter inch of soil on top of the seeds. Space at least 2 feet apart to allow plenty of room for them to grow.
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You can plant hollyhocks from seed or transplants in spring after the last frost date. In zones 8 and above, you can plant in fall. When sowing the seed, add only one-quarter inch of soil on top of the seeds. Space at least 2 feet apart to allow plenty of room for them to grow.
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When we moved here ten years ago, there were a few hollyhocks already planted and they've seeded themselves around in pleasing spots. But they do look ratty and horrible after blooming because of the rust and Japanese beetles eating holes in their leaves, so I usually cut them down after they've flowered, leaving a few to seed. The foliage definitely irritates the skin, so wear gloves and long sleeves when working with them.
Are Hollyhocks poisonous to pets?