Alcea (Malvaceae)
Hollyhocks are one of the best known and best loved perennial plants.
Often thought of as biennials, most are more truly short lived perennials, with some modern crosses living up to 7 years. Their continued presence owes to reseeded plants mixing in, creating an overlap, with plants popping up here and there through the generations. We have grown 5 species with an emphasis on single flowers, good disease resistance, and more long lived plants. The most common disease is rust, a kind of fungus it is prone to in our cool, damp climate. A sunny location and something like a fence to lean on will help.
As they are short lived, we sell first year plants in 4” pots. We find this is the best way to establish them.
Hollyhocks are one of the best known and best loved perennial plants.
Often thought of as biennials, most are more truly short lived perennials, with some modern crosses living up to 7 years. Their continued presence owes to reseeded plants mixing in, creating an overlap, with plants popping up here and there through the generations. We have grown 5 species with an emphasis on single flowers, good disease resistance, and more long lived plants. The most common disease is rust, a kind of fungus it is prone to in our cool, damp climate. A sunny location and something like a fence to lean on will help.
As they are short lived, we sell first year plants in 4” pots. We find this is the best way to establish them.
Hollyhocks are one of the best known and best loved perennial plants.
Often thought of as biennials, most are more truly short lived perennials, with some modern crosses living up to 7 years. Their continued presence owes to reseeded plants mixing in, creating an overlap, with plants popping up here and there through the generations. We have grown 5 species with an emphasis on single flowers, good disease resistance, and more long lived plants. The most common disease is rust, a kind of fungus it is prone to in our cool, damp climate. A sunny location and something like a fence to lean on will help.
As they are short lived, we sell first year plants in 4” pots. We find this is the best way to establish them.
Selections
We have experimented with several species and varieties. Not all are available.
Ficifolia - “Happy Lights’ fig leafed species, related to Russian, bred for disease resistance and good color mix.
Pallida - Turkish hollyhock, rare species. Simple pale pink, scalloped flowers. Long lived and disease resistant.
Rosea - ‘Nigra’ The famous dark red-purple, almost black flowers. Rounded leaf species.
Rosea - ‘Simplex’ Single flowers on strong stalks. Mix of colors. Hybrid selection.
Rugosa - Russian origin, very hardy and long lived. Clear single yellow flowers, excellent rust resistance.