Hollyhocks

Have you spotted the hollyhocks blooming? Old-time favorites in cottage gardens, hollyhocks have large blooms that are all borne up and down a single tall stem! They are long-blooming from June through August. Our Hollyhock Growing Guide provides information on planting, growing, harvesting, and even eating these showstopping flowers.

About Hollyhocks

Most of the old-fashioned types (Alcea rosea) are biennial: They produce foliage in the first year, then flower and self-seed before dying in the second. Once established, the plants perform like perennials, setting seed year after year. Due to their self-seeding properties, they may appear to spread, but, in actuality, they do not spread at all. Some newer varieties are considered perennial—they will bloom the first year and return year after year.

Hollyhocks grow 3 to 8 feet tall on a single stem, with single or double flowers that bloom from the bottom up. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds love these colorful blooms. Although hollyhocks originated in Asia, lore suggests their name may have originated during the “holy” religious Crusades (1095–1291), when anti-inflammatory salve from the plants was used to heal horses’ legs, or hocks. In addition to their medicinal properties, hollyhocks are safe for human consumption and are not poisonous to dogs.

Sow groups of two or three seeds 2 to 3 feet apart, depending on fully grown plants’ size at maturity, in early spring after the last frost or beginning in August until 2 months before the first fall frost.
Press seeds into the soil and cover lightly with soil; sunlight aids in germination. Or, start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost. (Sprouts emerge in 10 to 14 days.) Transplant outdoors when they are a few inches high.
When transplanting seedlings or mature potted plants, minimize disturbance to the roots.
For a stunning display, plant in groups of 8 to 12 plants along a fence or wall (in which case, staking is seldom needed).
Water well.

Growing

Hollyhocks require little attention during the growing season, but a little attention goes a long way. Fertilize the flowers one or two times in a season with a 10-10-10 or soluble fertilizer. In order to keep the flowers standing tall, stake the plant, if they are not grown against a backing (such as a fence or a wall). Soak the soil around the plants regularly to ensure that they are receiving enough water to thrive.

As the hollyhocks bloom, you will want to remove the faded flowers to encourage more buds to open. If you are collecting seeds, after petals fall, look for brown seedpods that contain flat, blackish seeds that you can replant.

Alcea rosea (common hollyhock) is an ornamental plant in the Malvaceae family. Blooming plants on the background of a black wooden fence. — Alcea rosea (common hollyhock).
Photo: Anna50/Shutterstock

Caring for Hollyhocks in the Fall

At the end of the season, you will want to cut the plants to the ground. Clean up and discard all plant debris in the fall to minimize or avoid rust or remove infected plants completely and start new ones in a different location.

Recommended Varieties

All hollyhocks are beautiful and make a stunning addition to your garden, here are some of our favorite varieties:

Alcea rosea ‘Radiant Rose’: large, pink, single flowers in the first year when started early;
5 to 6 feet tall; a true perennial; hardy to Zone 3.
Summer Carnival series: showy, long-lasting, double flowers in the first year from seed; pink, red, yellow, or white; 4 to 5 feet tall.
‘Powder Puffs’ mix: dense, 3- to 4-inch double flowers in shades of pink, red, white, yellow, and purple; 6 to 8 feet tall; hardy; reseeds vigorously.
‘Spring Celebrities’, ‘Queeny’, ‘Majorette’ mixes: double blooms in bright colors; about 3 feet tall; perfect for smaller gardens or containers.

Harvesting

Hollyhocks spires are breathtaking additions to your floral arrangements! Cut the stems for arrangements when one-third of the florets are open. Vase life is 7 to 10 days, you can remove the faded flowers to allow the buds higher on the stem to open.

Try adding hollyhocks to a bouquet with bellflowers, phlox, baby’s breath, and roses.

Gardening Products

Wit and Wisdom

Dahlias were often grown in front of hollyhocks to hide their “shins.”
Sometimes used to hide outhouses, hollyhocks were called “outhouse flowers.”
All parts of the hollyhock are edible; use petals in a salad or as a garnish. Here are 15 more edible flowers you can grow.
Hollyhocks are in the mallow (Malvaceae) family and cousins of okra, cotton, and hibiscus.

Pests/Diseases

Hollyhocks tend to be quite resistant to pests and diseases, but there are a few that you should be on the lookout for.

Diseases: anthracnose, southern blight, fungal leaf spot, and rust.

Pests: Japanese beetles, leafhoppers, root-knot nematodes, and spider mites.

You may have noticed—deer are not included on this list! Typically, deer avoid hollyhocks and choose to snack elsewhere.