Hollyhocks

Growing Hollyhocks: The perfect cottage charm

There’s something magical about hollyhocks blooming in the garden. With their towering flower spikes, hollyhocks bring height, texture, and old-fashioned charm to flower beds and even containers. Hollyhocks are known for their tall stems covered in large blooms that can reach up to 6–8 feet tall depending on the variety. They come in a wide range of colors including blush pink, creamy yellow, deep burgundy, apricot, white, and nearly black shades. Their dramatic vertical growth makes them perfect for adding height to the back of garden beds, along fences, or against walls.

Not only are hollyhocks beautiful, but pollinators absolutely love them. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are often drawn to their open blooms throughout the season.

Are Hollyhocks Annuals or Perennials?

Most hollyhocks are considered biennials, meaning they typically grow foliage their first year and bloom during their second season . However, many modern varieties bloom the first year from seed, especially dwarf or hybrid series bred for quicker flowering. Hollyhocks are heavy re-seeders, and can reappear throughout the garden.

How to Grow Hollyhocks from Seed

Hollyhocks can be started indoors or direct seeded in the ground. Sow them 1/4" deep in well draining soil or seed starting mix. Seeds typically take 7-10 days to germinate. Start 6-8 weeks before transplanting. We start our seeds indoors in January to transplant outside in late February or March. If direct sowing, plant outside after temperatures cool below 100 and before chances of frost (October is ideal in zone 9b) or wait until after your last frost.

Hollyhocks can also be started indoors in late summer for fall planting

Light Requirements

Hollyhocks thrive in full sun and bloom best with at least 8 hours of direct sunlight daily.

Watering

Water deeply and consistently, especially during warmer weather. Once established, hollyhocks are fairly resilient but still appreciate regular watering during bloom season.

Spacing

Because hollyhocks grow tall and wide, spacing plants properly helps improve airflow and reduce disease risk. Most varieties benefit from 12-18" spacing. Dwarf hollyhocks like the celebrities variety can be spaced 9-12"

Seasonality

Hollyhocks bloom just as many spring favorites begin to fade, making them an excellent succession planting after snapdragons, foxgloves, and delphiniums. Their tall, airy flower spikes help maintain height and color in the garden well into late spring and early summer. Pair them with salvias, lavatera, dahlias, and heliotrope for a beautiful, layered display.

Tall varieties may also benefit from staking, especially in windy areas.

Favorite Hollyhock Varieties

Spring Celebrities Series

Celebrities series is a compact variety toping out at 3' making it perfect for your container or border garden. They have fluffy double blooms that come in shades of purple to apricot. Pictured Celebrities 'purple'. This is a first year flowering variety that blooms its first year from sowing.

Peaches ‘n Dreams

Peaches n’ Dreams Hollyhock produces tall spires covered in large, fully double blooms in soft shades of peach, cream, and blush pink. This variety gets tall, towering at 5-6' in height.

Nigra

Hollyhock Nigra is a striking heirloom variety known for its dramatic deep maroon to nearly black blooms that create bold contrast in the garden.

Final Thoughts

If you love cottage gardens, whimsical flowers, or pollinator-friendly blooms, hollyhocks deserve a place in your garden. We will be planting them yearly to enjoy every season.

Looking for seeds?

Shop our hollyhock seeds here