A short-lived perennial whose bright red, densely-petalled flowers grow on tall stems above its bright green foliage. Hardy throughout most of the UK down to -15°C.
This Double Hollyhock flowers in bright purple-red, with large, ruffled petals which fill the inside of the flowers, giving it the 'double' name- it's like one flower folded inside another! These flowers grow from a flower spike, a tall stem up to 2m high which specifically grows to fill with colourful flowers. They will look great at the back of a flower bed, where their flower stems will tower over other plants in front... while those plants cover the less-colourful lower stems of the Hollyhock. As a short-lived perennial, they will flower and die back in a year, but will reseed themselves for years to come, so make sure you don't cut them back until after the plant has developed seeds.
Short-lived perennial but will re-seed each year.
Flower: tall stems
Flowers June to September
Scientific Name Alcea rosea (rose-coloured Alcea plant) 'Chater's Double Purple'
Common Name Hollyhock
Origin Originates in Southwest China, but was imported to Europe over 500 years ago!
Pruning Tips Remove rust-flecked leaves in summer and flower spikes once the flowers have faded. Allow the plant to seed before pruning if you want them to grow back each year.
Wildlife Value Can provide nectar for butterflies, but due to the denseness of petals, this can be hard to access.
Positioning Full sun Water Water in dry weather
Soil Moist but well-drained soil; chalky, sandy or loamy soil is ideal.
Food Hollyhocks do best in nutrient-rich soil; if your Hollyhock's seeds are yellowing, feel free to add extra nutrients to give it a boost!
Pet-safe Yes, although a lot of nibbling won't be good for your furry friend or the plant!
Sprouts Top Tips Hollyhocks can be susceptible to rust fungus, so keep an eye out for the orange-yellow splotches and remove any affected leaves to stop it spreading.
We have launched our first (hopefully monthly) ‘Letter from the Founder’ blog post. I talk about a string of bad luck, from water gushing from various ceilings in my life to a break-in, and also reflect on the incredible work we have done to win two awards earlier this year. I look ahead to what’s coming up in August, projects we are working on with our clients, and some thoughts about the rest of the year. And I give an insight into my brain, why I am who I am and why I’m so thankful for all the opportunities, passion and excitement that running Sprouts has given me as a founder and as a woman.