Hollyhocks are one of the most beautiful and iconic flowers found in cottage gardens and rural landscapes Their tall, majestic spires covered in vibrant blooms are a quintessential sign of summertime
If you’re looking for pictures of hollyhocks to help identify varieties or just admire their captivating beauty, you’ve come to the right place! This article will showcase stunning hollyhock photos and provide tips on growing these classic beauties.
A Brief Background on Hollyhocks
Let’s start with some hollyhock basics. Hollyhocks belong to the mallow family, with their botanical name being Alcea. They originated in Asia and Europe.
There are over 60 species of hollyhocks, and they come in a diverse range of colors. Most have single flowers with flared trumpets comprising 5 petals. However, you can also find double flower varieties with ruffled, crepe-like blooms.
These stately plants can grow anywhere from 2 to 10 feet tall. They thrive in full sun and prefer fertile, well-drained soil. Hollyhocks are biennials or short-lived perennials, blooming from mid-summer to early fall.
Now that you know some key facts about hollyhocks let’s look at pictures of these striking flowers.
Single Flower Hollyhocks
Single bloom hollyhocks have flat, wide opened flowers These are the most common type of hollyhock blossoms Here are some top examples
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Mars Magic – This variety has fiery red single blooms with a yellow eye. The color really pops against the green foliage.
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Blacknight – For something unusual, check out ‘Blacknight’. Its inky purple-black flowers provide dramatic contrast.
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Spring Celebrities Purple – This dwarf variety has vibrant purple single blooms with ruffled edges. It’s ideal for containers.
Double Flower Hollyhocks
Double flower hollyhocks have row upon row of petals, creating pom-pom or crepe-paper effects. They make quite the statement! Some beauties to admire:
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Chater’s Double Scarlet – Scarlet red, fluffy fully double blooms will stop traffic. A real eye-catcher!
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Pleniflora Yellow – Buttery yellow, carnation-like double flowers brighten any garden. A classic beauty.
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Spring Celebrities White – Elegant white double blooms are perfect for moon gardens or alongside blue flowers.
Unusual Hollyhock Varieties
Beyond classic single and double flowers, there are unique hollyhocks to discover:
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Indian Spring – Check out the outer color band on these disc-shaped beauties. Unique and vibrant!
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Creme de Cassis – This variety has saucer-shaped purple blooms with white margins. So distinctive!
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Bristly Hollyhock – As the name suggests, this type has hairy stems bearing soft pink flowers.
Miniature Hollyhocks
Miniature hollyhock varieties have all the charm of standard types but in smaller sizes. Some delightful options:
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Brilliant Miniature Mix – Abundant small blossoms in red, pink or purple make a big impact.
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Dwarf Mix – A blend of colors on plants perfect for containers or edging beds.
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Camelot Lavender – Lavender-blue mini blooms retain their color intensity in this compact series.
Hollyhock Leaves & Growth Habits
Now that we’ve admired the flowers, let’s examine hollyhock leaves and growth habits.
Hollyhock leaves are large rounded paddles with 5-7 lobes. They range from 4 to 12 inches wide.
Mature plants can grow up to 9 feet tall! Smaller varieties max out from 1-4 feet.
Their tall, erect growth makes them perfect backdrop plants. Hollyhocks also readily self-sow, popping up in unexpected places!
Here are some more examples of hollyhock leaves and growth:
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Classic green, lobed foliage.
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Towering against structural elements.
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Mingling beautifully with other flowers in cottage gardens.
How to Grow Hollyhocks
Hopefully these photos have inspired you to grow hollyhocks! Here are some key cultivation tips:
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Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant seedlings 18-24 inches apart after danger of frost passes.
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Site in full sun with fertile, well-draining soil. Amend clay soils with compost.
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Provide support for tall varieties with stakes or trellises.
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Water regularly, especially during blooming.
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Cut spent flower stalks to encourage re-blooming. Leave some for self-sowing.
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Mulch in fall for cold protection in zones 3-8. Use row covers where winters are very cold.
Admiring More Hollyhock Pictures
What’s not to love about hollyhocks? Their beauty, variety, and vintage appeal make them garden superstars.
Hopefully this article has provided plenty of inspiration on the many delightful forms of hollyhocks. For more photos of these classic beauties, check out the stock image sites iStock and Getty Images which have thousands of stunning hollyhock pictures.
Let these regal flowers bring grace and elegance to your garden for years to come! With their rich history and incredible diversity, hollyhocks are a real treasure.
Alcea rosea, A. rosea subsp. ficifolia, A. rugosa, A. pallida
Hollyhock seed stock was collected from around the world and reselected and hybridized in Germany for 18 years. The results have been extraordinary – the introduction of the first true perennial, single hollyhock series. Bloom is from late spring through early fall. Plants will flower the first year when started early and grow to up to 5-6 ft. tall and 5 ft. across. Winter hardy to zone 3.
Large 4-5 in. flowers with brightly colored halo centers. These tall, bushy 6-8 ft. tall perennial hollyhocks bloom from July to September. Flowers the first year from seed when started early. Halo series hollyhocks are some of the highest performing, showiest hollyhocks you can grow. Plants are rust resistant. Self-sows. Winter hardy to zone 3.
Alcea rosea,A.rosea subsp. ficifolia, A. rugosa, A. pallida
Hollyhocks are sturdy and stately, old fashioned plants. They bloom over a long summer season. Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Plants will usually reseed and return year after year.
Large double, flattened peony-shaped flowers. Plants are biennials or short-lived perennials. Average garden height is 5-7 ft. Grown in rich soil with plenty of water, plants can reach a whopping 10-12 ft. tall. We are pleased to offer the following excellent, often seldom seen varieties.
William Chater (1802-1885) through his Saffron Walden Nursery in England, revolutionized the growing of hollyhocks upon the release of the 1847 seed catalog. Offered for the first time, were reliably double hollyhock flowers of uncommon size and substance, in colors not previously seen.
Chaters hollyhocks are biennials or short-lived perennials. Plants bulk up the first season – bigger plants produce more flowers – and then explode into bloom in late spring or summer of the second year. In astonishingly rapid fashion, plant stems elongate and produce a wealth of large, plump buds. Spectacular, towering, flowering stalks follow. Cut back after bloom, plants will flower again in late summer and fall. Seeds allowed to mature near the end of the season, will often self-sow. Plants are winter hardy to zone 3.
#hollyhock#seedstarting#sowingseeds#flowerseeds#heirloomseeds
FAQ
Do hollyhocks like sun or shade?
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MasterClasshttps://www.masterclass.comHow to Grow Hollyhocks in Your Home Flower Garden – MasterClassJun 7, 2021 — Choose a sunny location. Whether outdoors or indoors hollyhocks thrive best in a full-sun environment, so make sure you have a sunny garden bed. Holl…
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Cedar Rock Gardenshttps://cedarrockgardens.comSummer HollyHock (Alcea) – Cedar Rock GardensPick a full-sun spot—one with at least six hours of sunlight per day—with a natural wind barrier, such as a fence, building, or larger plantings, to keep your h…
Do hollyhocks come back every year?
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Biennial Nature:Hollyhocks are typically biennial, meaning they flower and die back after their second year.
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Self-Seeding:They produce numerous seeds, which readily germinate and establish new plants in the garden.
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New Plants, New Locations:These self-seeded plants may appear in new locations, potentially different from the original parent plant.
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Variability:The new plants may exhibit variations in color or other traits, as they are the result of seed germination rather than vegetative propagation.
Why are hollyhocks so hard to grow?
Hollyhocks perform well under a wide range of conditions. However, temperatures that are especially cool or hot may slow their growth and can affect their overall performance. Though hollyhocks can be grown in regions that experience high humidity, they may experience an increased susceptibility to disease.
How many HollyHock stock photos are there?
Browse 13,569 authentic hollyhock stock photos, high-res images, and pictures, or explore additional hollyhock house or hollyhock flower stock images to find the right photo at the right size and resolution for your project.
Are Hollyhock images royalty-free?
Free hollyhock images to use in your next project. Browse amazing images uploaded by the Pixabay community. Find images of Hollyhock ✓ Royalty-free ✓ No attribution required ✓ High quality images.
Where can I find high quality images of hollyhocks?
Browse amazing images uploaded by the Pixabay community. Over 5.4 million+ high quality stock images, videos and music shared by our talented community. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Find images of Hollyhocks ✓ Royalty-free ✓ No attribution required ✓ High quality images.
What is a hollyhock flower?
Hollyhock flower (Alcea rosea) bush of various colors in the garden against the blue sky. hollyhock, holyoke or Alcea rosea hollyhock, holyoke or Alcea rosea, is herbal medicine, used to control inflammation, to stop bedwetting and as a mouthwash in cases of bleeding gums. Hollyhock stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images
What color is a hollyhock?
[Photo of Mars Magic hollyhock] ‘Mars Magic’ has fiery red single blooms with a yellow eye. The color really pops against the green foliage. [Photo of Blacknight hollyhock] For something unusual, check out ‘Blacknight’. Its inky purple-black flowers provide dramatic contrast.
What is HollyHock used for?
Hollyhock stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images hollyhock, holyoke or Alcea rosea, is herbal medicine, used to control inflammation, to stop bedwetting and as a mouthwash in cases of bleeding gums. Hollyhocks growing against an old barn wall Alcea rosea, Mallow pink flower (also called malva, hollyhock, Althaea rugosa).