Hollyhocks

Now that’s an old-fashioned favorite!” I came to a stand by my friend’s display of hollyhocks. “Purple, pink, red … these midsummer bloomers are real gems. Are they perennial?”

“Actually, biennial,” she replied.

“Alternate years?” I mused. “But yours grow every year.”

“I collect the seeds and, yes, they can appear every year, but they seed themselves, so it’s not really the same plant.

Description

Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) is known for its prolific, cup-shaped flowers on tall spikes. Some are single; others are double. These spikes are covered with blooms from top to bottom, which make a showpiece of blue, pink, purple, red, white, yellow, and even black. The leaves are large and coarse, and palmate shaped. In other words, the leaves are shaped like a hand with its fingers spread wide, all of the five or more lobes radiating from one point.

Crawlers or Stakes

Hollyhocks tend to grow tall, sometimes up to 8 feet, and they become top heavy with all the blooms. Some people just let the plant fall over and crawl along the ground. I prefer to stake them up to protect and preserve (and better see) the flowers.

Annual, Perennial, or Biennial

So here’s the question: Are hollyhocks annual, perennial, or biennial? Consider their different growth cycles. It depends on the variety of hollyhock.

The most common varieties of hollyhocks are biennials. They complete their life cycle in two years. During the first year, they grow foliage and store energy in preparation for the second year, when the stalks grow tall and flowers bloom all along the stalks. This is when the seeds form.

Some varieties perform like short-lived perennials. They flower in the first year if planted early enough in the spring or started indoors over the winter. They will grow stalks and produce flowers in that first and final year of their growth cycle, almost like an annual.

Natural Habitat

Hollyhocks originated in the eastern Mediterranean and central Asia. Their resilience and timeless beauty captivated gardeners, spreading their habitat to Europe, western Asia, and the Americas. This adaptable flower thrives in diverse ecosystems, mostly temperate climates, adding a touch of charm to gardens around the world.

Growing Conditions

Hollyhocks have a long flower season from June to August, which is part of the reason they’re so popular in gardens. Like most flowering plants, hollyhocks require a rich, moist, well-drained soil, preferably in full sun or partial shade. Keep the soil moist when starting the hollyhocks, but once established, they tend to be fairly drought tolerant. Water the plants at the base, and avoid getting the leaves wet as this could result in disease.

Because the stalks grow very tall, it’s important to plant in an area protected from damaging winds. Support the stalks with a fence, wall, trellis, or stake. Since they self-seed, make sure you choose a location where you don’t mind if they take over. As a point of interest, hollyhocks can be planted close to black walnut trees. They are one of the few plants that are tolerant to the chemical juglone that tree leaches into soil.

Propagation

This plant is best grown from seed. They readily self-seed the garden if the flower stalks are left in place over the winter. Seeds can also be collected and brought indoors to start in pots over the winter.

When planting seeds or seedlings outdoors, plant at a quarter inch deep and space the plants about 2 feet apart. Since hollyhocks have long taproots, remember to start the indoor seeds in tall, individual pots, and to transplant the seedlings early to avoid root damage.

Start the seeds outdoors about a week before the last frost, and bring seedlings started indoors about 2 to 3 weeks after the last frost.

Varieties of Hollyhocks

There are about 60 varieties of hollyhocks in a wide range of colors, including various shades of pink, red, yellow, orange, white, and purple. There are also bi-colored hollyhocks that change color as they mature, and the petals can be striped, speckled, and ruffled. Here are some of the more common and popular varieties (this is a small selection — there are many hollyhock varieties to choose from.

Hollyhock Mallow

This variety might be called a wannabe hollyhock, as it’s from another genus, Malva alcea. It looks strikingly like traditional hollyhocks, grows to about 4 feet in height, and the large leaves at the plant’s base appear heart-shaped. The flowers are purple and pink.

Antwerp Fig-Leaved Hollyhock

These are considered true perennial hollyhocks. They grow 6 to 7 feet tall with up to 5-inch flowers in a rich variety of deep colors including yellow, copper, pink, red, and white. If started early, these hollyhocks will bloom in the first year.

Chater’s Double and Chater’s Double Icicle

Ruffled double flowers cover the 8-foot flower spikes in shades of yellow, purple, pink, red, white, and apricot (the Chater’s Double Icicle is white). Both varieties are short-lived perennials.

Halo Blush Hollyhock

This hollyhock produces tall, sturdy spikes supporting large, white, single flowers with a fuchsia-red halo and yellow throat. Absolutely stunning!

Peaches ‘n’ Dreams

As you can imagine, this hollyhock is a peachy-cream color with a hint of pink. This biennial will bloom in its second year.

Fiesta Time

This is a hardy, dwarf variety that will flower quickly in its first year with double-fringed flowers that are bright pink. The seeds of this hollyhock are best germinated indoors, and then planted outside after the last frost.

Blacknight

Yes, there is a black colored hollyhock. It’s a robust perennial that blossoms on tall, sturdy spikes. The single, funnel-shaped flowers are a deep, black-purple with a bright yellow throat.

Queeny Purple

This is one of the shortest dwarf varieties of hollyhocks, growing no more than 20 inches high. The flowers are a rich purple with frilled edges.

Companion Plants

Hollyhocks grow well with most any other plant. Any sun-loving perennial would make a great hollyhock companion including foxglove, mullein, and lupines.

Pollinators

Hollyhocks are great pollinators for bees and hummingbirds. They also support the life cycle of the painted lady butterfly, serving as a host plant for its caterpillars.

Pests and Diseases

A fungal infection called hollyhock rust afflicts the leaves with yellow spots that develop into brown bumps on the underside. The best prevention is to water at the base of the plant to prevent the rust outbreak. A thorough late fall cleanup will help prevent rust from spreading. Any leaves showing signs of this rust must be removed and disposed of (not composted) to prevent spread.

Hollyhocks are also affected by slugs, snails, spider mites, and Japanese beetles.

Some good news is that hollyhocks tend to be deer resistant.

Uses

Hollyhocks are not poisonous. In fact, the entire hollyhock plant is edible: roots, leaves, and blossoms. Related to the marshmallow plant, it can sometimes be used as a milder substitute for that herb. Remember, however, that high heat and alcohol can affect the healing properties of hollyhock.

Taken internally, hollyhock flowers make a good infusion for soothing gastrointestinal discomforts (much like the marshmallow herb does), as well as respiratory, sore throats, and urinary infections. Wrap fresh or dried hollyhock flowers in a cheesecloth and set in a jar of water, submerged, but near the surface. Place in the refrigerator overnight.

Remove the cheesecloth and keep the infusion in the refrigerator for up to two days. This cold infusion can be used instead of water in soothing soap recipes.

Various parts of the hollyhock plant can also be used in skin creams, hair creams (it nurtures split ends), and soaps.

Conclusion

This old-fashioned favorite is a resilient and charming addition to any garden. As my seed-saving friend explained, “It wouldn’t be a garden without some hollyhocks.”