(Alcea rosea 'nigra')
Black Hollyhock is an introduced biennial/short-lived perennial flower native to Turkey that grows throughout the United States. Once fully mature, this plant can grow up to 36-60 inches tall. It boasts hairy green stems, as well as compound green leaves that measure 3-6 inches. Additionally, it produces striking dark chocolate/black flowers that are around 3-6 inches in size. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and songbirds, is resistant to rabbits, is both edible and medicinal, and is used as a cut flower!
Genus: Alcea
Species: rosea
Variety: Black Hollyhock
Native to: Turkey
Introduced into: Alabama, Albania, Algeria, Argentina Northwest, Arizona, Assam, Austria, Azores, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, California, Canary Is., Central European Rus, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Colorado, Connecticut, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Delaware, District of Columbia, Dominican Republic, East Aegean Is., East European Russia, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Idaho, Illinois, India, Indiana, Iowa, Italy, Juan Fernández Is., Kansas, Kentucky, Korea, Kriti, Laos, Leeward Is., Libya, Madeira, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Morocco, Nebraska, Nepal, Nevada, New Brunswick, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, New Zealand South, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oman, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Pennsylvania, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Québec, Rhode I., Romania, South Dakota, Spain, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Tennessee, Texas, Tibet, Trinidad-Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Utah, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vermont, Vietnam, Virginia, Washington, West Himalaya, West Virginia, Windward Is., Wisconsin, Wyoming, Xinjiang, Yugoslavia
Grown as: Biennial/Short Lived Perennial
Maturity (Blooms): Jun-Aug
Hardiness: Very tender. Hollyhocks grow in a temperature range of 60-90º
Light: Full sun
Water: Medium to low.
Soil Moisture: Moist until your hollyhocks become mature. At maturity hollyhocks are drought tolerant due to their deep taproot.
Suitability: Hollyhock does well in almost any soil but prefers a well-drained soil with pH 6.0 - 8.0, from slightly acid to alkaline.
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Bees, Butterflies, Hoverflies, Song Birds and is resistant to rabbits.
Containers?: No. Hollyhocks have long taproots as well as lateral roots that need space.
Maintenance: Low
Height: 36-60”
Spacing: 24”
Sow Depth: 1/8"
USDA Zone: 2-10
Produces: stout hairy green stems, 3-6” compound green leaves, and 3-6” dark chocolate/black showy 4-5 petal flowers.
Garden Uses: Butterfly Gardens, Edible Gardens, Pollinator Gardens, Borders.
Starting Spring Seeds Indoors:
Germinating Hollyhock Seeds:
1) Fill seed starting trays to within 1/4 to 1/2 inch of the rim with moist soil mix.
2) Firm the surface with the back of your fingers, then scatter 2-3 seeds evenly over the medium.
3) Sprinkle a little additional soil mix over seeds until they are covered 1/8" add a label with the plant name and date.
4) Cover the finished pots with plastic and set them in a warm bright place or under lights at a room temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit .
5) Keep the soil moist as the seedlings sprout and develop. Move the pots into direct sunlight to continue growing.
Temperature: 60 - 65F.
Average Germ Time: 21-28 days
Light Required: Yes
Depth: Do not cover the seed but press into the soil
Moisture: Keep seed moist until germination
Transplanting Seedlings into Larger Pots:
1) When your seedlings have two sets of true leaves, pot them up into a larger container filled with a soil mix.
2) After the last threat of frost, harden off the seedlings in the garden for about 10 days.
3) Once the seedlings have been hardened off, you can plant them in the garden.
Spring Planting Outdoors:
Hollyhock seeds can be directly sown in the spring time after the last frost date. Direct sow 2-3 seeds 1/8" deep, 24" apart in any moist soil that is well-drained with pH 6.0 - 8.0. The prefer to be planted in an area in full sun.
Fall Planting:
In late fall (August or September), direct sow 2-3 seeds 1/8" deep in any moist soil that is well-drained with pH 6.0 - 8.0.
Transplant your seedlings into the garden once the soil has warmed after all dangers of frost. Hollyhock prefers full sun and a moist soil that has a pH between 6.0 and 8.0. Dig your holes as deep as the pots you are transplanting from and keep a spacing of 24" between seedlings. Your soil will need to maintain a medium moisture until your hollyhocks develop its taproot.
When outdoor temp: 60˚F to 90˚F.
Spacing: 24"
Support: No.
Temperature and Humidity: Hollyhocks grow in a temperature range of 60-90º F as long as conditions are ideal. If the temperature drops below 55º F, it will die back to the ground, and you will need to mulch the soil in order to insulate the dormant roots to protect them from getting too cold. Hollyhocks don't have any humidity requirements and actually fare worse in climates with high humidity as this makes them more susceptible to diseases such as rust. Hollyhocks need good air circulation, so enable this by planting them around 18 inches apart.
Fertilizer: Hollyhock flowers do well with 10-10-10 fertilizer, which, in short, stands for equal levels nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. You should only need two to three tablespoons of this fertilizer per plant per season.
Pruning: Individual hollyhock flowers can be removed when they fade and entire stalks can be cut back to the base after flowering. This will prevent seed heads from forming and reseeding. Although, if you'd like to have seeds set for next spring, leave the flowers and a few stalks until the seeds have dropped.
At the end of the growing season (late summer or early fall), rather than picking the flowers on your hollyhocks, allow them to "go to seed" on the stalks.
When hollyhock flowers go to seed, they shrivel and turn brown. Eventually, the petals fall to the ground, leaving large, fuzzy, brown pods behind. These pods are seed pods, and they contain hollyhock seeds.
When they've dried to a medium brown on the stalk, it's time to harvest them.
To harvest hollyhock seeds, simply snap the hollyhock seed pods off the stalks with your fingers, dropping them into a brown paper bag. (If you want to sow them instead of saving them, autumn is also the ideal time for that. Simply scatter the seeds onto rich, fertile soil in a sunny spot in your garden, one that's appropriate for tall flowers like hollyhocks, and cover them lightly with soil.)
Keep the hollyhock seed pods in the paper bag until you're ready to begin the cleaning and drying process, which is the next step in saving hollyhock seeds.
Hollyhock seeds are large and flat. They often stick together in the pod and should be separated to facilitate drying.
Cleaning and Drying the Seeds:
To prepare harvested hollyhock seed for storage, crack open the seed pods, separating the seeds and discarding the pod.
Hollyhock seeds are rather large and flat. Inside the pod, they tend to stick together, and you'll probably have to separate them from each other using your fingernails. With tweezers (or your fingers—the pieces will be quite large), remove any debris or chaff.
Once you start handling the seeds, you'll realize that, despite the brown and shriveled appearance of the pods, the seeds aren't really dry. They still contain moisture and must be allowed to dry more before storage.
To remove the excess moisture, place the hollyhock seeds on paper towels, wax paper, or old window screens and allow them to air dry for about a week. Don't leave them much longer, as they'll begin to absorb the moisture instead of losing it, something you definitely don't want.
Culinary
Inner portion of young stems: raw.
Flower petals and flower buds: raw. Added to salads. A nutritious starch is obtained from the root. A refreshing tea is made from the flower petals.
Medicinal
Companion Planting
yarrow, and zinnia. Some of these plants match the requirements of hollyhocks and some prefer dry soil and should be used to surround your hollyhocks to prevent competition.
Suggested Varieties
(Dimorphotheca sinuata ‘African Daisy Mix’)
Orange African Daisy is a beautiful annual flower native to South Africa but grows in dry areas of Arizona and California. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 6-12” and features slender, light green spoon-shaped 3” leaves and 2-3” petals that range in orange, yellow, pink, and white colors. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and butterflies, and tolerates drought!
(Digitalis purpurea ‘Foxglove’)
Foxglove is a biennial/short-lived perennial flower that is native to eastern Europe but can be commonly found growing in open woods, woodland clearings, moorland and heath margins, sea-cliffs, rocky mountain slopes, and hedge banks throughout the northeastern and northwestern United States. At maturity, this plant features thick, textured leaves at the base and tall spikes of tubular, dangling 2-3” blossoms of rose pink or purple with tiny contrasting spots. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer and rabbits, and is used as a cut flower!
(Tagetes erecta ‘Naughty Marietta’)
Naughty Marietta Marigold is a compact annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be commonly found growing on banks and slopes throughout the central and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 6-12” and features divided green foliage and aromatic flower heads with yellow petals with mahogany streaks at their base. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and ladybugs, repels bean beetles, cabbage loopers, and nematodes, is both edible and medicinal, and can be used as a trap crop for aphids.
(Tagetes erecta ‘Sparky Mix’)
Sparky Marigold is a compact annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be commonly found growing on banks and slopes throughout the central and eastern United States. This plant grows up to 9-12 inches tall and has green foliage that is divided. Its orange and yellow flowers have wavy petals and emit a pleasant aroma. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and ladybugs, repels bean beetles, cabbage loopers, and nematodes, is both edible and medicinal, and can be used as a trap crop for aphids.
(Helianthus annuus ‘Autumn Beauty’)
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Autumn Beauty Sunflower is a native annual flower that grows in dry areas of meadows, plains, and prairies throughout every region of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 5-6' and features hairy stems & heart-shaped green leaves, and 4-6” yellow, orange, red, bronze, or mahogany flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, is resistant to rabbits, is a great trap crop for aphids, is both edible and medicinal, tolerates drought, makes dye, and is used as a cut flower!
(Helianthus annuus ‘Dwarf Sungold’)
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Dwarf Sungold Sunflower is a native annual plant that grows in dry areas of meadows, plains, and prairies throughout every region of the United States. When fully grown, this plant can stand 2-3 feet tall. Its stems and heart-shaped leaves are covered in hair, while its golden yellow flowers, measuring 5 inches, have an aromatic scent and resemble pompons. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, is resistant to rabbits, is a great trap crop for aphids, is both edible and medicinal, tolerates drought, makes dye, and is used as a cut flower!
(Helianthus annuus ‘Mammoth’)
Mammoth Sunflower is a native annual plant that grows in dry areas of meadows, plains, and prairies throughout every region of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 8-12' and features hairy stems, hairy heart-shaped dark green leaves, and 12-24” yellow flower heads. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, is resistant to rabbits, is a great trap crop for aphids, is both edible and medicinal, tolerates drought, and makes dye!
(Helianthus annuus ‘Velvet Queen’)
Velvet Queen Sunflower is a native annual plant that grows in dry areas of meadows, plains, and prairies throughout every region of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 3-4' and features hairy stems, hairy heart-shaped dark green leaves, and 4-6” flowers in shades of bronze, red, and mahogany with dark centers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, is resistant to rabbits, is a great trap crop for aphids, is both edible and medicinal, tolerates drought, and makes dye!
(Helianthus annuus 'White Nite' ProCut Series)
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White Nite Sunflower is a native F1 hybrid annual flower that grows in gardens throughout the United States. When fully grown, this plant can grow 5-6 feet tall. It has hairy stems and heart-shaped green leaves. The plant's flowers are about 4-6 inches in size, with dark centers and vanilla to nearly white petals. They do not produce any pollen. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, is resistant to rabbits, is a great trap crop for aphids, is both edible and medicinal, tolerates drought, makes dye, and is used as a cut flower!
(Achillea millefolium 'Rubra')
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Red Yarrow is a native mat-forming perennial that can be commonly found growing along roadways and in fields and lawns throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 1-2' and features erect stems, medium green fern-like foliage, and clusters of red flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hoverflies, ladybugs, and predatory wasps, is rabbit safe, repels beetles, and flies, the leaves are burned to repel mosquitoes, is used as a compost activator, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetic cleansers, dye, essential oil, and liquid plant food, self sows, is both edible and medicinal, and is great as a cut flower!
(Achillea millefolium 'White')
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White Yarrow is a native mat-forming perennial that can be commonly found growing along roadways and in fields and lawns throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-18” and features erect stems, medium green fern-like foliage, and clusters of white flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hoverflies, ladybugs, and predatory wasps, is rabbit safe, repels beetles, and flies, the leaves are burned to repel mosquitoes, is used as a compost activator, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetic cleansers, dye, essential oil, and liquid plant food, self sows, is both edible and medicinal, and is great as a cut flower!
(Zinnia elegans ‘Canary Bird’)
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Canary Bird Zinnia is an annual flower native to Mexico but grows in the southern and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 2-3' and features hairy upright branching stems, 5” lance-shaped green leaves, and 4-5” bright yellow dahlia-type flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, earwigs, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, self-sows, and is used as a cut flower!