Common Name: Hollyhock Marjorette Mix
Scientific Name: Alcea rosea
Physical Attributes: a compact, dwarf biennial or short-lived perennial (90–120 cm) featuring large, double-flowered “powder-puff” blooms in mixed pastel and strong colors, including red, pink, and yellow.
Uses: Beds, borders & cut flowers.
Life Cycle: Biennial
Growing Height: 120cm
Attracts: Birds, butterflies & bees.
When to Sow: Spring, late Summer & Autumn
Sowing Depth: 5mm
Sow Spacing: 50cm
Sowing Method: Sow outdoors a week before your final frost or start in doors in deep pots due to their root nature, 9 weeks prior to the last frost. Harden off for 2 – 3 weeks after the last frost then transplant. Transplant when still young to avoid root damage.
Position: Full sun/partial shade
Germination Time: 10-21 days
Maintenance: Trim back spent flower spikes in late Autumn/early Spring before new growth starts producing.
Seeds Per Packet: 25
Hollyhock – Marjorette Mix – 40 Seeds
In stock
$4.25
Ah, the Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)! Now you’re talking about a true, grand dame of the cottage garden. There is nothing quite like them for adding dramatic, vertical charm to a sunny border, is there? They bring that quintessentially romantic, “chocolate-box” feel to a home, often peaking around December to March.
If you’ve a mind to grow them, here is how to go about it in a proper way.
The Charm and Character
A “Pass-Along” Plant: Historically loved, they’ve been in gardens since the 16th century, often gracing walls or picket fences.
Magnificent Heights: They can reach a dizzying 8 or 9 feet tall in the right spot, making them a superb backdrop for lower-growing perennials.
Pollinator Friend: Bees simply adore the single-flowered varieties—they can wander in and out of the funnel-shaped blooms with ease.
How to Grow ‘Em
Sun and Shelter: They must have full sun. Plant them against a north-facing wall or fence if you can—this protects them from harsh winds and keeps them from toppling over, while the wall reflects heat to mature the seeds.
Soil: They prefer a rich, well-drained soil, though they’re quite forgiving.
Sowing: They are mostly biennials, meaning they grow a rosette of leaves the first year and flower in the second. Sow seeds in late spring to summer (September-November) directly where you want them, or in pots, and they’ll flower next year.
Don’t Disturb: Once you plant them, leave them be! They have long taproots and heartily resent being moved.
A Gardener’s Care:
The Dreaded Rust: Yes, hollyhocks do get a rust fungus—those unsightly orange spots on the leaves. It’s a bit of a nuisance.
Gardener’s tip: Keep them well-watered at the base, not on the foliage. To keep them tidy, you can pick off affected lower leaves, or simply accept they get a bit “tatty” at the bottom.
Self-Seeding: If you let them drop their seeds, they will return forever, often in places you didn’t plan for! That’s half the charm.
Staking: Do be prepared to tie them to a cane or fence if you are in an exposed spot.
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