Alcea

Hollyhock

Alcea are robust biennials or short-lived perennials with showy funnel-shaped flowers borne in tall, erect racemes in summer. Their tall spires look good grown against walls and fences and are stalwarts of cottage gardens. Hollyhocks can be cut for bouquets and you can even add the petals to salads or crystallise for cake decorations.

Fully hardy and flower in the second year after sowing.

Classification

• Common Names: Hollyhock

• Family: Malvaceae

• Variety:

2020-12-26_19-48-45.png: 2020-12-26 Hollykock seed packet

Propagation Notes

• Plant Type: Bi-annual

• Propagation: Seed

• Hardiness: Hardy H5-H1 (<-10)

• Flowering Season: Mid summer

Easy to grow from seed. Sow indoors in mid- to late spring or directly in the position you want them to grow in May/June. Cover seed lightly,, light assists germination. Likes well-drained soil in full sun. Stake stems in window areas Single flowers are best to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies Pot grown hollyhocks are best planted in spring or autumn, but can be planted at any time, spacing them 60cm (24in) apart.

2024-01-09: Introduce new Hollyhock Cabaret seed from Dobbies. 1.2 m mixed colours.

2023-07-02: planted out the holyhocks. They have become strong and healthy plants in the greenhouse.

2023-04-01: holyhocks seedpods going out to transplant

2023-03-25: Hollyhocks started te germinate

2023-03-18: Sow harvested hollyhocks in pods