Alcea rosea

Alcea rosea (hollyhock) — the towering, old-fashioned cottage-garden flower with tall spires of saucer blooms, beloved by bees. A classic in our biennial flower range.

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  • Hollyhock Chater Double Mixed seeds (Alcea rosea) – biennial mix Hollyhock Chater Double Mixed (Alcea rosea) – biennial mix seeds from SeedsChoice
    Hollyhock Seeds Alcea Rosea Chater Double Mixed Biennial
    €4,45

    Double-flowered mix for classic cottage borders hollyhock seeds bring the timeless look of tall cottage garden flowers to borders, paths, and planting areas along fences. This Chater’s double hollyhock seeds selection is valued for its...
  • Hollyhock Chater's Deep Purple seeds (Alcea rosea) – biennial Hollyhock Chater's Deep Purple (Alcea rosea) – biennial seeds from SeedsChoice
    Hollyhock Seeds Alcea Rosea Chater's Deep Purple Biennial
    €4,45

    Deep purple hollyhocks for classic garden height hollyhock seeds for Chater’s Deep Purple bring dramatic, deep purple double flowers to the garden on tall, upright stems. This is a tall biennial flower that typically blooms...
  • Hollyhock Chater Double Mixed seeds (Alcea rosea) – biennial mix Hollyhock Chater Double Mixed (Alcea rosea) – biennial mix seeds from SeedsChoice
    Hollyhock Seeds Chater Double Mixed Alcea Rosea Biennial
    €4,95

    Chater Double Mixed hollyhock for tall borders hollyhock seeds in the Chater Double Mixed selection are a classic choice for creating tall cottage garden flowers with a strong vertical accent. This variety of Alcea rosea...
  • Hollyhock Majorette Champagne seeds (Alcea rosea) – annual Hollyhock Majorette Champagne (Alcea rosea) – annual seeds from SeedsChoice
    Hollyhock Seeds Majorette Champagne Alcea Rosea Annual
    €4,95

    Majorette Champagne annual hollyhock for borders hollyhock seeds ‘Majorette Champagne’ are a compact, annual hollyhock variety valued for its elegant, full-looking blooms and neat garden habit. This selection of Alcea rosea reaches around 80 cm...
  • Hollyhock Summer Carnival seeds (Alcea rosea) – annual Hollyhock Summer Carnival (Alcea rosea) – annual seeds from SeedsChoice
    Hollyhock Summer Carnival Seeds Alcea Rosea Annual
    €4,95

    Colourful annual hollyhock for sunny borders hollyhock summer carnival seeds are a striking choice for gardeners who want tall, classic spires of bloom in summer borders. This annual selection is grown as Alcea rosea and...
  • Hollyhock Antwerp Stars seeds (Alcea rosea) – biennial mix Hollyhock Antwerp Stars (Alcea rosea) – biennial mix seeds from SeedsChoice
    Hollyhock Seeds Antwerp Stars Mix Alcea Rosea Biennial
    €4,95

    Antwerp Stars mix for tall border displays hollyhock seeds Antwerp Stars Mix are a classic choice for adding vertical structure and old-fashioned charm to borders and cottage-style plantings. This biennial flower seeds mix produces tall,...
  • Hollyhock Summer Carnival seeds (Alcea rosea) – annual Hollyhock Summer Carnival (Alcea rosea) – annual seeds from SeedsChoice
    Hollyhock Seeds Summer Carnival Alcea Rosea Annual
    €4,45

    Summer Carnival hollyhock for colourful borders hollyhock seeds ‘Summer Carnival’ are an annual hollyhock variety valued for their tall, classic cottage-garden look and strong presence in mixed plantings. This selection of Alcea rosea is well...
  • Hollyhock Doppia Multicolor seeds (Alcea rosea) – perennial mix Hollyhock Doppia Multicolor (Alcea rosea) – perennial mix seeds from SeedsChoice
    Hollyhock Seeds Alcea Rosea Doppia Multicolor Perennial Mix
    €4,95

    Multicolor double blooms for classic cottage borders hollyhock seeds are a timeless choice for adding vertical structure and rich color to traditional gardens. This double flower hollyhock mix produces densely petaled blooms in a multicolor...
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Alcea rosea — the hollyhock

Alcea rosea is the botanical name for the hollyhock, the towering, old-fashioned cottage-garden flower whose tall spires of saucer blooms are a quintessential image of summer. A short-lived perennial usually grown as a biennial, it sits among our biennial flowers within the wider flower seed collection.

History & origin

The hollyhock has been grown for so long that its exact wild origin is uncertain, but it is thought to come from China and south-western Asia. It reached Europe in the Middle Ages, possibly carried back from the Middle East around the time of the Crusades, and its old English name — from “holy” and “hock” (a mallow) — may recall that journey from the Holy Land. By Tudor times it was a beloved garden flower, and it has stood by cottage walls and doorways ever since.

Its botanical name reflects its family and colour: Alcea derives from the Greek name for a mallow, and rosea means “rose-coloured.”

Botanical characteristics

A statuesque plant reaching two metres or more, the hollyhock sends up tall spikes hung with large single or double flowers in pink, red, white, yellow, apricot and near-black. As a member of the mallow family its open, nectar-rich blooms are a magnet for bees, so it features among our bee-friendly and pollinator flowers. It is perfect at the back of a border or against a sunny wall, and self-seeds to return year after year.

Growing Alcea rosea from seed

Grown as a biennial, hollyhocks are sown in early summer to flower the following year, or in spring to flower a little later. Give them deep, rich soil, full sun and shelter from strong wind, and stake the tall spikes in exposed spots. Leave a few seed heads and they will happily self-seed. Our flower growing guide and flower sowing calendar cover the timing.

Ready to grow hollyhocks? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Biennial Flowers · Pollinator Flowers · Bee-Friendly Flowers · Cut Flowers · All Flower Seeds

At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Alcea rosea?
It is the botanical name for the hollyhock, a tall, short-lived perennial usually grown as a biennial.

Where does the hollyhock originate?
Probably from China and south-western Asia; it reached Europe in the Middle Ages.

What does the name mean?
Alcea comes from the Greek for mallow and rosea means “rose-coloured”; the English name means “holy mallow.”

Are hollyhocks good for bees?
Yes — their open mallow flowers are very nectar-rich.

How do I grow them?
Sow as a biennial in early summer to flower the next year; give them deep soil, full sun and a stake.