Hollyhock - Alcea rosea

Hollyhocks like rich, free draining soil in a sunny position. They are perennials, but are usually grown as biennials.

They can suffer from rust, there's not too much that you do about this, apart from remove the plant after flowering. However, companion planting with Achilla millefolium (common yarrow), the leaves and roots are rich in copper which is a natural fungicide, which may help.

They will self-set freely or pick off the seed heads and sow the seeds as soon as the are ripe in pots or open ground in autumn, they will flower the following year.

Suggested sowing time:

(Key: sow indoors, sow outside, sow outside under cover.)

Cultivars and varieties:

Alcea rosea 'Chater's Double' - This short lived perennial has a frilly, double flowers. It is named after the nurseryman W. Chater who grew hollyhocks in his garden in the 1840-50's.

Alcea rosea 'Chater's Salmon Pink'

Alcea rosea 'Chater's Scarlet'

Alcea rosea 'Chater's Yellow'

Alcea rosea 'Nigra' - Has a deep red/maroon flower.

Seeds to sow now:

Indoors or in a heated greenhouse

Cress

Ornamental pepper

Outside

Alpine wallflower

Alyssum

Basil

Beet, Beetroot, Chard

Beetroot

Cabbage

Canterbury bell,

Carrot

Common wallflower

Cress

Double daisy

Foxglove

Kohl rabi

Lettuce

Onion

Pansy

Radish

Spinach

Spring onion

Sweet William

Turnip