The illustrated growing guide
Hollyhock
Alcea rosea
Family Malvaceae
Est. zones 3-8
The flower that says 'cottage garden' — 6-to-8-foot spires of saucer blooms lining a sunny fence, alive with bees, hummingbirds, and painted lady caterpillars. It self-sows so reliably it never really leaves. Give it airflow to fight its one enemy, rust, and enjoy one of the great old-fashioned vertical accents (the flowers are even edible).
Full Sun
Moderate water
Fast growth
Attracts hummingbirds
Attracts butterflies
Attracts bees
From the print shop
Growing hollyhock? Hang it.
Our Cottage Garden Vol. 2 collection carries hollyhock — Alcea rosea nigra, print Nº 1, “Hollyhock.”
16 designsfrom $21.99white or black groundmatte poster, unframed
I
Overview
Will hollyhock suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it fruit where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what hollyhock actually needs.
Life cycleBiennial, grown as an annualHollyhock at a glance
Common hollyhock problems
- Japanese Beetles
- Hollyhock Weevil
- RUST (orange pustules — the hollyhock plague; site for airflow, remove affected leaves)
II
Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow hollyhock: light, water & soil
When to spray hollyhock
Growing season. Remove rust-spotted leaves; choose rust-tolerant strains.
III
The year
What hollyhock asks for, month by month.
The hollyhock year, month by month
BloomWhat each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
The hollyhock year as text
- Jan quiet month
- Feb quiet month
- Mar quiet month
- Apr quiet month
- May quiet month
- Jun bloom
- Jul bloom
- Aug bloom
- Sep quiet month
- Oct quiet month
- Nov quiet month
- Dec quiet month
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
IV
Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Hollyhock in the garden system
- Herbaceous layer biennial
- Nectary/insectary
- Hosts Painted lady & common checkered-skipper
What hollyhock is grown for
✓ Commonly eatenedible flowers
Harvesting & storing hollyhock
Edible flowers (garnish); reseeds.
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
V
Cultivars
Named varieties of hollyhock, ruled as a catalogue.
Best hollyhock varieties & cultivars
'Nigra' (near-black); 'Chater's Double'; 'Halo' series; rust-tolerant 'Las Vegas'
VI
Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to hollyhockyet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
VII
Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
VIII
Questions
Hollyhock questions, answered straight.
Is hollyhock safe for kids and pets?
Hollyhock is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. One caveat on this one: edible flowers. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
When do you harvest hollyhock?
Edible flowers (garnish); reseeds.
IX
Elsewhere
Where hollyhock sits in the library.
Sunflower
Zinnia
Peony
Daylily