HOLLYHOCK PIONEER MIX, Alcea rosea

HOLLYHOCK PIONEER MIX, Alcea rosea

old-fashioned garden favorite

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These old-fashioned single-flowered blooms sport some of the darkest, richest colors known to the Hollyhock family, as well as cheery pastels and light colors. All are studded with a prominent yellow center, and all arise profusely on sturdy 5 to 7 foot stems in summer, attracting bees and hummingbirds. This heirloom, early blooming hollyhock has an abundance of large single 4-5" flowers that are a real eye-catcher and look most impressive in the garden as tall border plants or for background planting.

They bloom from mid summer to frost and the long stems make for excellent cut flowers. Easy from seed, this reliable perennial is hardy to zone 3 and will flourish in full sun and rich soil.

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Sowing instructions

Cover with a layer of soil as thick as the seed''s diameter. Daytime temperatures of 68F/20C are best for germination. Keep moist but not soppy. It should germinate in 1-2 weeks. You can also plant directly outside two weeks before the last frost date. It likes a sheltered (not too much wind), sunny site and rich soil. It does not like extreme heat, as in south Florida. If grown there, try planting it on the north side of the house and not in full sun. It usually spends the first year making a rosette of leaves and forming a sturdy root, then in the second year a large spike will shoot up 5-8 feet and will start blooming, but sometimes you will get lucky and it will bloom late in the first year. If you pinch it back as it is growing, it will get more branches and thus more flowers. Or you can just let it go to its full, regal height. Single stalks are very impressive. Mulch at least four inches deep to protect in winter, although if you get heavy snow cover all winter, you don''t need to. They like to reseed themselves