The Hollyhock flower is also known as Alcea rosea, a native plant of south china, imported to Europe during the 15th century. It is an ornamental dicot flowering plant belonging to the Malvaceae family.
Hollyhocks in a biennial plant mean it’s a complete life cycle in a span of two years. In the first year, it spent time growing stems, and foliage, and storing energy. In the second year, the stalk shoots up and blooms numerous flowers and forms seeds.
source: Mike Atkinson
However, some varieties grow perennial and bloom flowers in the first year of planting if planted in early spring or started indoors in winter.
This plant does not need much maintenance but it is required to protect from pests and diseases. Here in this post, I’ll describe How to Grow Hollyhock Flower.
Let’s get started:
Hollyhock Flower
It’s a classic cotton garden staple that blooms in mid-spring with multiple flowers on tall spikes about 6-8 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide. Grows well in full sun and partial shade mostly in hardiness zone 3-8.
Hollyhocks blooms have single or double-cup-shaped flowers that look similar to Japanese anemones. The flowers grow with or without stalks on a tall spike.
It’s available in many varieties with different shapes and colors including pink, yellow, white, purple, red, and even black.
In the blooming season, the spikes are decorated with numerous flowers from top to bottom. Their leaves are large, coarse, and palmate in size.
Toxicity
Hollyhocks are not reported toxic when ingested by pets or humans. But, their leaves and stems irritate when the small glass-like fiber is touched or brushed against them which is obviously a very rare condition.
How to Grow Hollyhock Flower
source: Devra
Where to plant
Plant them in the spot where they get at least 6-8 hours of sunlight. Although hollyhocks most varieties are biennial they need enough sunlight to grow leaves and store energy.
The plant has long taproots, planted in long individual pots, and quickly transplanted into the garden when they get 5-6 inches taller in height.
As the plant has a tall long spike, plant them against a wall, fence, trellis, or stalk to protect it from strong winds.
Lastly, for plants where drainage is good, their long taproot does not like to stand in water for a longer period, which may cause root rot and fungal diseases.
When to plant
Start indoor planting 9 weeks before the last frost. The seedling can be transplanted two to three weeks after the last frost.
You can easily grow hollyhocks from seeds indoors as well as outdoors. Seeding is the best and easiest way to propagate hollyhock, they will readily self-seed if their flower stalks are left in place.
They are tall so it’s not possible to grow in pots, it might not bloom. For better results plant seeds directly in the garden.
Here is what to do:
- Collect fresh 2-3 seeds and wash with water to moist. Seeds shouldn’t be too old, it may germinate late or mostly even don’t germinate.
- Sow the seeds one inch deep in the ground. Make sure to sow one or two seeds into a hole, too many seeds in a particular spot will lead to improper growth.
- Plant seeds at least 1 foot apart from each other, while planting it looks odd but when they get mature they have a healthy distance to spread.
- Soil is an essential part of planting, do not plant in the native ground soil. Instead, use a 50:50 ratio of compost and native soil. For ease of use potting mix soil.
- Dip a 4-5 inches wide hole and put prepared soil and sow seeds on top.
- Water the plant thoroughly to make the soil moist.
- It takes nearly 14-20 days to germinate, keep in mind in the first year of planting it will only produce stems and leaves. Adding unnecessary fertilizer will not help in blooming.
Care For Hollyhock Flower
source: Amanda Slater
Soil
Always plant them in rich compost soil. The soil pH is usually not a problem for them, they grow in neutral soil pH. Prepare the soil with compost and sand soil for good drainage.
Water
Water regularly to keep the soil moist but avoid overwatering. Hollyhocks need regular watering in the starting once they get established, they are drought tolerant. The best way is to water when the upper surface of the soil looks dry.
Always water onto the base of the plant, avoiding wetting stem foliage. The wet parts of plants increase the chance of fungal diseases leading to disease leaves.
Pruning & Cutting
Prune yellow-brown leaves or dry flowers from the plant, these parts look dead but they keep sucking energy from the plant once you remove them the energy is redirected for new growth.
When the flowers bloom cut 5-6 inches of the stalk and decorate these flowers in vases. Cutting the blooming branch is important to encourage new flower growth.
Pest and diseases
The hollyhocks often suffer from rust, a fungal infection that first appears like a small yellow spot and then develops into brown rust the colored bumps on both sides of the leaves.
This fungal disease is caused due to overwatering and improper air circulation.
To prevent this water the plant only when its soil looks dry. And for proper air circulation, plant each hollyhock at least 1 foot apart.
Any leaves showing the susceptibility to rust should be removed from the plant and get destroyed before they spread to the whole plant.
If you often suffer from rust in your garden, then consider growing rust-resistant cultivars such as “Alcea rugosa” varieties.
Did I Miss Anything?
Now I’d like to hear from you: which tip from today’s post are you going to try first?
Or maybe, I didn’t mention your favorite plant growing tip. Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now.
Before going if you want to grow beautiful flowers in your garden? Then click on these articles also.
Also, Read How tall do hollyhocks get?
Do Hollyhocks bloom all summer

Hey! I’m Madhuresh, a passionate content creator, and a Plant lover. I created Shiny Plant to explore and learn about new plants. The purpose is to provide simple and effective Gardening Tips. Hope you’ll find this informative.
I appreciated the tip about cutting 5-6 inches of stalk once bloom to encourage new growth.
Can the seed pods be kept over winter for spring planting? Do the seeds need to be dried prior to planting?
Hi Carol,
Yes, seeds should be dried before planting. Store your seed pods in the refrigerator, not in the freezer until you’re ready to plant.
I started seed in May, but the seedlings looked so delicate I decided to wait till they were bigger to plant.
Now it’s September and the plants are about 8 inches high, but very leggy. Don’t look like stalks at all.is this normal? And can I winter over the plants and plant next spring?
It’s normal, Hollyhock is a biennial plant, that takes two years to complete its growing cycle.
In the first year, it spent time growing stem, and foliage and storing energy. In the second year, the stalk shoots up and blooms numerous flowers and forms seeds.
Hollyhocks are hardy in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 8. You can overwinter it to replant in the next spring.
Enjoyed info. Thanks. I have grown Holly hicks a) over our big south side yard but have had terrible orange rust on leaves last 3 years. Few survived this year. Pre spray if they come back. I miss them dancing in the breeze! Thank you. Claudia