Hollyhock - Althaea rosea

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HollyhockHollyhockThe hollyhock is a native of China and is widely cultivated for its handsome single or double rose-like flowers in summer. They are available in shades of pink, red, yellow, purple, cream and white. Hollyhocks include annual, biennial, and perennial forms. They are well suited to cottage gardens where their towering height is used at the back of the informal border to add a strong vertical interest.

Annual hollyhocks that flower in their first year are usually grown in South Africa. They grow well throughout the country but are not suited to humid and very hot regions. In the winter rainfall regions plant them out in spring as they do not like to have wet-feet in winter.

They love full sun and grow best in rich, loamy, well-drained soil, to which a sprinkling of lime has been added. Hollyhocks can reach up to 2.8 m tall and need to be spaced 60 to 90cm apart. The perennial varieties can be cut back to ground level in autumn and will flower again next season.

Deadheading wilted flowers will encourage re-blooming and should be done until the end of the season, unless self-sown seedlings are desired. Individual plants are short-lived but self-sowing happens frequently, so the clumps are often perennial in nature. Hollyhocks are quite sturdy plants and do not require staking but in regions that experience heavy rainfall and on windy sites it is best to stake them.

Seeds are usually sown directly into well-prepared garden beds or seedling trays in late summer or spring. Germination usually takes 10 to 20 days in soil temperatures between 15 and 20°C. Light is beneficial to germination so do not cover the seeds with soil.

Additional Info

  • Common Name: Hollyhock
  • Latin Name: Althaea rosea