Black Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
A stunning heirloom hollyhock variety from Poland. The blooms are a very deep marron color that look nearly black. Dozens of large blooms adorn tall stems. The center of the blooms have a bright yellow throat which provide a beautiful contrast and the flowers attract lots of pollinators. Hollyhocks are biennial meaning they bloom and produce seed in their second year. The first year the plants will sprout and grow to about 18" tall.
Hollyhocks bloom and produce seed int heir second year. While they are not perennial plants, they do produce a ton of seed so if you let the seeds fall you will enjoy blooms that return for many years.
This Polish variety grows quite tall, up to 6ft, so you may consider staking the stems. We like to grow them along a fence-line which provides some support and makes it easy to tie them up.
Origin: The parent seed of this unique black hollyhock was given to us by one of our seed customers from Ohio many years ago. She obtained the original seed from Poland where her family lives and has farmed for many generations.
(Approximately 40 seeds per packet)
Germination Rate: All of our seed varieties exceed 70% germination and are tested every 6 months.
Planting Instructions: Hollyhock seeds can be sown in full sun in fall or early winter. The must be sown shallow, about 1/4", because the seeds need light to germinate. They can also be sown indoors and transplanted in the garden after frost. Growing tip: Hollyhocks are hardy plants but they are susceptible to rust and fungal diseases. The best way to prevent these diseases is to grow your hollyhock where the plants get good ventilation and to be absolutely sure that they have well drained soil.
