Hollyhock
Hollyhock is a flower in the Malvaceae family. It grows best in full sun to part shade with medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 3-9. Plants reach maturity about 80–840 days after planting and sit about 12 inches apart.
Varieties
7 from True Leaf Market & Seeds Now · sorted by days to maturity▸Queeny Purple80–100 days
Non-GMO; AAS Winner; Container; Annual
Queeny Purple is a compact hollyhock (Alcea rosea) and a 2004 All-America Selections winner, the first single-color purple hollyhock offered outside a mixture. It produces frilly, powder-puff blooms about 3 to 4 inches across on branching plants that reach roughly 20 to 30 inches tall, making it well suited to smaller gardens, borders, and containers. Grown as a biennial or short-lived perennial, it can flower the first year from an early sowing.
View on True Leaf Market ↗▸Indian Spring110–140 days
Non-GMO; AAS Winner; Container; Perennial; Biennial
2nd-year maturity. Alcea rosea. Hollyhock Indian Spring Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial/Biennial. Indian Spring Mix hollyhock is easy to grow from seed and ideal for gardens with mild winters across North America. Indian Spring Mix hollyhock is native to temperate Asian climates and altitudes and is a tenacious performer in poor soils. Indian Spring Mix seeds promise hardy 48-60 inch tall hollyhocks bursting with classic 3-inch blooms in shades of fuchsia, pink, rose, and magenta. Indian Spring Mix hollyhock is a perfect fresh-cut addition to excite any seasonal basket, bouquet, or centerpiece. Approx 3,000 seeds per ounce.
View on True Leaf Market ↗▸Indian Spring Mix110–120 days
The spectacular Indian Spring Hollyhock Mix (Alcea rosea) produces towering spikes that can grow to 9' tall with saucer-sized blooms in shades of rose and crimson. Heat- and cold-tolerant, this biennial blooms its first year. Prefers full sun, but can tolerate part shade, even under a Black Walnut tree. The leaves, buds, and petals are edible. Life cycle: Biennial Bloom season: Summer, fall Attracts: Birds, hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators Flower meaning: Abundance, ambition, femininity, fertility, fruitfulness
Growing notes: Botanical name: Alcea rosea|Hardiness zones: 2-10|Planting season: Summer, fall|Days to maturity: 2nd year|Cold stratify: Yes|Depth to plant seeds: Lightly cover - seeds need light to germinate|Depth to plant seeds: Surface sow|Spacing between plants: 18"-36" apart|Days to germinate (sprout): 10-21 days|Germination soil temps: 60F-70F|Soil types: Sandy, loamy, chalky, rich, moist, well-drained|Soil pH: 6.0-8.0|Water needs: Average|Sun needs: Full sun, part shade|Frost tolerant: Yes|Drought tolerant: Yes|Deer resistant: Yes
View on Seeds Now ↗▸Nigra310–420 days
Non-GMO; Container; Perennial; Biennial
365 Days to maturity (2nd Year). Alcea rosea 'Nigra'. Hollyhock Nigra Flower Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, self-seeding short-term perennial (sometimes considered a biennial). Nigra hollyhock flowers are not easy to forget. These extra tall flower stalks display dark maroon flower petals that look nearly black. The centers of the flowers have a contrasting yellow throat for even more visual interest. Expect ten or more blooms per stalk coming on throughout mid and late summer on these vigorous and spectacular performers. Approx 3,000 seeds per ounce.
View on True Leaf Market ↗▸Chater's Double Mixture365–720 days
Non-GMO; Container; Perennial; Biennial
2nd-year maturity. Alcea rosea. Hollyhock Chater's Double Mixture Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial/Biennial. Chater's Double Mixture hollyhock seeds promise to turn any stale bedding into a sensational and eye-catching garden this season. Chater's Double Mixture seeds promise hardy 72-96 inch tall hollyhocks bursting with huge 5-inch blooms. Chater's Double Mixture hollyhock seeds are a spectacular pick for in the back of the garden, along a fence, or lining the house. Chater's Double Mixture hollyhock is a hardy annual that thrives as a perennial in optimal gardens but will easily reseed itself each season for as long as you'll have it around. Approx 3,000 seeds per ounce.
View on True Leaf Market ↗▸Powderpuffs Double Mix365–630 days
Non-GMO; Container; Perennial; Biennial
2nd-year maturity. Alcea rosea. Hollyhock Powderpuffs Double Mix Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial/Biennial. Powderpuffs Double Mix hollyhock seeds are an ideal plant to rejuvenate a tired garden into a stunning and vibrant winner. Powderpuffs Double Mix seeds grow tolerant 48-72 inch tall hollyhocks bursting with classic 3-4 inch heads in shades of yellow, fuchsia, red, pink, rose, and magenta. Powderpuffs Double Mix Hollyhock seeds are an essential eye-catching addition to show off in the back of the garden, a fence, or any wide open spaces. Powderpuffs Double Mix Hollyhock is a hardy biennial that will vigorously reseed itself for an even more spectacular color the following season. Approx 3000 seeds per ounce.
View on True Leaf Market ↗▸Summer Carnival Mix620–840 days
This Summer Carnival Mix (Alcea rosea) produces towering spikes that can grow to 9' tall with saucer-sized blooms in all sorts of different colors. Heat and cold-tolerant, this biennial blooms its first year. Prefers full sun, but can tolerate part shade, even under a Black Walnut tree. The leaves, buds, and petals are edible. Life cycle: Biennial Bloom season: Summer, fall Attracts: Birds, hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators Flower meaning: Abundance, ambition, femininity, fertility, fruitfulness
Growing notes: Botanical name: Alcea rosea|Hardiness zones: 2-10|Planting season: Summer, fall|Days to maturity: 2nd year|Cold stratify: Yes|Depth to plant seeds: Lightly cover - seeds need light to germinate|Depth to plant seeds: Surface sow|Spacing between plants: 18"-36" apart|Days to germinate (sprout): 10-21 days|Germination soil temps: 60F-70F|Soil types: Sandy, loamy, chalky, rich, moist, well-drained|Soil pH: 6.0-8.0|Water needs: Average|Sun needs: Full sun, part shade|Frost tolerant: Yes|Drought tolerant: Yes|Deer resistant: Yes
View on Seeds Now ↗
Plant spacing
In a square-foot bed, space hollyhock about 12 in apart — that fits 1 plant in each 1-foot square (1×1). Wider rows or containers space the same.
Plan your hollyhock planting
Add hollyhock to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.
Start your free plan →At a glance
Growing timeline
Care & troubleshooting— extension-sourced, with citations
When to feed, prune & water
Attract beneficial insects and protect pollinators
Protection- Routine carePlant insectary flowers and tolerate light pestsstrong evidence — extension confidence
Grow a diversity of flowering plants (including small-flowered umbels and asters) to feed predators and parasitoids, and tolerate low pest numbers so natural enemies have prey to stick around.
- Routine careNever spray open bloomsstrong evidence — extension confidence
Avoid insecticides on flowering plants and apply any needed sprays in the evening when pollinators aren't active, and favor selective products over broad-spectrum ones to spare bees and beneficials.
Mulch to suppress weeds and retain moisture
Mulch- Routine careApply organic mulch around plantsstrong evidence — extension confidence
Spread a few inches of straw, shredded leaves, or compost around established plants (keeping it off stems) to hold soil moisture, suppress weeds, and moderate soil temperature; wait until soil has warmed for heat-loving crops.
Clean up debris and sanitize at season end
SanitationUnusual this time of year.
- Routine careRemove spent plants and fallen debrisstrong evidence — extension confidence
Pull and clear old plants, dropped fruit, and leaf litter at season end, since many pests and diseases overwinter in this debris; dispose of diseased material rather than composting it.
- Routine careClean tools, stakes, and cagesmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Wash and sanitize stakes, cages, and tools that touched diseased plants before storing or reusing them to avoid carrying pathogens into next season.
Harden off seedlings
ProtectionUnusual this time of year.
- Routine careGradually expose plants to the outdoors· every 1 days · ~2 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Starting about two weeks before transplanting, set seedlings outside in a sheltered, shady spot for a few hours and lengthen their time and sun exposure each day, avoiding windy days, to prevent transplant shock.
- Routine careEase back on water and transplant on a mild daystrong evidence — extension confidence
Water a little less during hardening (without letting plants wilt) to toughen growth, then transplant in late afternoon or on a cool, cloudy, calm day.
Something looks wrong?
Describe what you see on your hollyhockand we'll rank the likely causes — most likely first, least-invasive fix first.
Hollyhock rust
Diseasemoderate- CulturalRemove infected leaves and spent stalksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Pick off spotted leaves through the season and cut plants to the soil line after flowering, bagging all debris (don't compost). Pull nearby mallow weeds, which host the same rust.
- CulturalWater at the base and space for airflowmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Avoid wetting the foliage; use drip or water early so leaves dry fast, and give plants room for good air movement to slow new infections.
- ChemicalProtectant fungicide - label use only· every 2 wks · ~8 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Where rust returns severely every year, a labeled fungicide (e.g. myclobutanil) from early in the season can protect new growth. Follow the label.
Japanese beetles
Pestmoderate- CulturalHandpick into soapy water· every 1 days · ~4 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
In early morning when beetles are sluggish, knock them into a bucket of soapy water; daily removal also reduces the scent that draws in more beetles. Skip the lure traps, which tend to attract more beetles than they catch.
- CulturalCover plants past bloommoderate evidence — extension confidence
On crops that have finished flowering and set fruit, drape a row cover or netting to keep beetles off without blocking pollination during bloom.
Spider mites
Pestmoderate- CulturalHose down and raise humidity· every 3 days · ~2 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Mites thrive in hot, dry, dusty conditions. Spray foliage (especially undersides) with water to dislodge them and reduce dust.
- OrganicInsecticidal soap or horticultural oil - label use only· every 5 days · ~2 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Apply to undersides per label; mites resist many products, so soaps/oils are preferred. Not in extreme heat.
Whiteflies
Pestmoderate- CulturalRemove infested leaves and hose off· every 4 daysmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Pick off and discard heavily infested lower leaves and rinse colonies off undersides with a strong spray of water; yellow sticky cards help monitor numbers.
- OrganicApply a labeled soap or oil· every 1 wk · ~3 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Apply a labeled insecticidal soap or neem oil per the label, covering leaf undersides; these reduce but won't eliminate whiteflies, so repeat as needed.
Aphids
Pestlow- CulturalBlast off with water· every 3 days · ~2 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Knock colonies off with a strong jet of water in the morning; repeat every few days. Light infestations rarely need more.
- OrganicInsecticidal soap - label use only· every 1 wk · ~3 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
For persistent colonies apply insecticidal soap to undersides per label. Avoid open flowers.