'Blacknight' Hollyhock (Alcea)
Perennial
- Six-foot-tall spikes of flowers tower in the garden!
- Nearly black cup-shaped flowers have yellow centers.
- Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
- Zones 3-9, sun, 5-6' tall and 24" wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Hollyhocks (or Alcea) have long been an old-fashioned cottage garden staple. This sun-loving classic boasts vibrant flowers, tall stems, and prominent lower foliage, which makes quite a statement in the landscape. Hollyhocks are easy to grow in rich soil and are fairly low maintenance, only requiring a heavy trim after flowering. Even near black walnut trees, hollyhocks manage to find a way to shine. Plant it as a specimen or in masses for a tall wall of color that will never cease to impress!
Details
Common name: Hollyhock
Zone: 3-9
Sun exposure: Sun (6+ hours sun)
Height x width: 5-6' X 24"
Flower color: Deep purple to black
Foliage color: Green
Season of Interest: Summer
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Rabbit resistant, juglone tolerant
Uses: Background, border
How to Grow
Light: Full sun
Water: Average, keep well-watered until established, once established they can tolerate some drought.
Spacing: 24 inches
Fertilizing: Hollyhocks benefit from light fertilizer in the spring.
Winterizing: prune back 6-8 inches above the ground before over-wintering. Additional mulching is optional. ‘Blacknight’ is a hardy perennial unlike other varieties of Hollyhock.
Maintenance & Pruning: Prune back after flowering to 6-8 inches above the ground. Staking may be required in high wind locations.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
