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Hollyhock
Alcea rosea
Hollyhock blooms from June through August.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Hollyhock
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 3–8. Expect it to reach about 5.9 ft tall and 2 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 2 years.
When to plant Hollyhock
Plant Hollyhock in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. For the middle of its hardy zones 3 to 8 range, spring means April to June and fall means August or September. Once settled, it blooms from June to August.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 5 in April.
Comes in 6 varieties across 4 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Hollyhock
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
Handling the foliage can cause skin irritation or contact dermatitis in some people, and mild stomach upset in animals that eat it. Wear gloves. per Cornell
Worth knowing
Most old-fashioned hollyhocks are biennials or short-lived perennials: a leaf rosette the first year, flowers the second, then decline. A stand lasts by self-seeding. per NC State and South Dakota
Does it need staking?
Penn State lists it among top-heavy plants needing support; NC State says it usually doesn't. In windy, exposed or rich sites, stake the spikes; sheltered ones stand alone. per Penn State and NC State
Rust is the signature disease
Hollyhock rust, a fungus, is its most common disease: orange-brown pustules under the leaves, yellow spots on top, holed lacy foliage. It defoliates but rarely kills the plant. per Wisconsin and Iowa State
Managing hollyhock rust
Control is cultural first: bin infected lower leaves as spots appear, clear all stalks at season's end (the fungus overwinters on debris), pull mallow weeds, and water at the base. per Illinois and Michigan State
Safe around pets and children
The ASPCA classifies it non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, and NC State lists no poisoning concern. A genuinely low-risk plant to have around pets and children. per ASPCA and NC State
Draws bees and hummingbirds
The large open flowers draw bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, and the plant also feeds songbirds. The broad funnel shape gives bees easy access to pollen and nectar. per NC State
What pairs well with Hollyhock
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Candytuft
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; low at 10 in, to carpet the ground beneath; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Sea Thrift
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; opens in mid spring and overlaps into this one's season; low at 8 in, to carpet the ground beneath; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Bergenia
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; lower at 1.3 ft, for the front of the border.
Autumn Crocus
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in early fall as this one finishes; low at 6 in, to carpet the ground beneath.
Arborvitae
Shares full sun and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 20 ft, for the layer behind it.
Siberian Squill
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; low at 6 in, to carpet the ground beneath.
Windflower
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; low at 6 in, to carpet the ground beneath.
Pansy
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate water; opens in early spring and overlaps into this one's season; low at 8 in, to carpet the ground beneath.
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