GardenWizzPlant Care Card

Hollyhock

Alcea rosea · Perennial

Hardiness
H5 Hardy — cold winter (to −15 to −10°C)
Position
Full sun
Height × Spread
2.5 m × 100 cm
Soil
Well-drained; chalk, loam or sand; pH acid, alkaline or neutral (RHS genus guide: 'Hollyhocks will grow in most soils, including both heavy and dry soils, in full sun').
Flowering
June–August
Toxicity
No toxicity recorded

The Gardening Year

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
🌸 In flower

Watch out for

Hollyhock rust: Non-chemical control: Check plants regularly and remove and dispose of affected leaves.; Dispose of heavily infected plants.; Do not use seed from affected plants.; Monitor bought-in plants closely.; Grow as a biennial and discard after flowering; alternatively hide leaf symptoms behind shorter front-of-border plants.. Chemical control: Difficult; fungicides offer limited success because airborne spores travel long distances. Should only be used minimally and in a highly targeted manner if at all.

Slugs: Use standard UK slug control (cultural barriers, hand-picking, biological controls as appropriate).

Cutworms: Use standard UK cutworm control (collars, cultural controls as appropriate).

Aphids: Use standard UK aphid control (encourage predators, targeted treatment as appropriate).

Capsid bugs: Monitor plants and remove affected growth; targeted treatment if severe.

Full guide: gardenwizz.com/plants/alcea-rosea © GardenWizz — UK gardening encyclopedia