The Flower Journal: Hollyhocks
Here at The Flower Journal we take a look at a new flower every week. This week we are learning about Hollyhocks.
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Hollyhock
Alcea rosea
Hollyhocks are tall, stately biennial or perennial flowering plants prized for their towering spikes of large, colorful blooms. With their vibrant petals and towering height, hollyhocks add a dramatic vertical element to garden borders, cottage gardens, and landscapes providing a nostalgic charm reminiscent of traditional country gardens. My personal favourites are Henry the Eighth Black and Peaches n Dreams.
Probably my favourite piece of information is that Hollyhocks have a rich history dating back centuries. They were cultivated in medieval gardens and became popular in English cottage gardens during the Victorian era. Their tall, majestic blooms have been featured in art, literature, and folklore for generations.
Hollyhocks are native to southwestern and central Asia, particularly regions such as Turkey, Iran, and the Caucasus. They have been cultivated for centuries and were introduced to Europe and other parts of the world through trade and exploration. Hollyhocks have since become naturalized in many temperate regions and are popular ornamental plants in gardens and landscapes worldwide.
Hollyhocks come in a wide range of colors, including shades of pink, red, yellow, purple, and white. They really are a stand out feature in any garden.
Hollyhocks are biennial plants, meaning they complete their life cycle over two years. In the first year, they produce foliage and establish their root system. In the second year, they send up tall flower spikes and produce blooms. After flowering, hollyhocks often self-seed, allowing them to perpetuate themselves in the garden.
Floriography is also known as the secret language of flowers. You can learn more about floriography here.
Ambition, Fruitfulness
Plant Type: Biennial
Position: Full Sun
Sow in: Late Summer - Autumn
Height: 1.8m
Spacing: 60cm
Days to Germination: Approx 13 - 25 days
Days to Flower: Approx 150 - 200 days
Hollyhocks make a great cut flower when prepared correctly. To prevent the stem from producing a sap that seals the end and makes it difficult for the flowers to take up water, you will need to sear the end of the stem with an open flame. Vase life is 5 days, however with repeat cut and searing you may get over 10 days out of them.
Disclaimer
The growing guide is just that, a guide, and is meant to be taken as general information. This guide should work in a temperate climate but nothing is certain - especially with climate change altering our wet and dry seasons. This is the perfect opportunity for you to get to know your garden. What’s your climate? How much direct sunlight does your garden get? Do you get a lot of rain or are you currently in a drought? Are you growing in containers or in the ground? What is your soil quality like?
You can chart your garden and test your soil, educate yourself on what makes a healthy garden, or just experiment and throw some seeds in then tweak as you go. It’s completely up to you.Please be sure to check that this plant variety isn’t considered a weed in your local area before you sow any seeds.
I’ve done my best to make sure this information is correct and up to date by cross checking multiple sources. If you feel that something is not quite right or you’ve found something to work really well in your home or garden - please let us know about it in the comments.
I’m in Australia!
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