Plant field guide
Hollyhock
Towering old-fashioned cottage garden flowers with large blooms along tall spikes. Biennial or short-lived perennial that self-seeds freely.
Growing requirements
- Scientific name
- Alcea rosea
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- moderate
- Height
- 48 in (122 cm) – 96 in (244 cm)
- Spread
- 12 in (30 cm) – 24 in (61 cm)
- Spacing
- 24 in (61 cm)
- Hardiness zones & minimum temperature
- USDA 3–9; average annual extreme minimum from -40°F (-40.0°C). Hardiness does not predict local frost dates.
- Difficulty
- moderate
Planting & seasonal timing
Northern Hemisphere planting months: not yet verified in our database.
Northern Hemisphere pruning months: October, November.
For the Southern Hemisphere, these seasonal windows shift approximately six months. Check your local frost forecast, soil temperature, and species requirements; calendar months are not a guarantee of planting safety.
Plant against a wall or fence for support and wind protection. Rust fungus is common - remove infected leaves. Self-seeds readily.
Pruning
Cut stalks to ground after flowering. Remove any rust-infected leaves throughout the season.
Fertilizer
Balanced organic fertilizer
Early spring and midsummer
Mulch
2-3 inches of organic mulch. Keep away from crown.