Nigra Hollyhock is a stunning heirloom that stops every passerby in their tracks with its nearly black, dark maroon petals that seem to glow against summer light. Growing 5 to 8 feet tall, this open-pollinated biennial produces ten or more blooms per stalk throughout mid and late summer into fall, with contrasting yellow throats that add unexpected brightness to each flower. Hardy from zones 2 to 9 and drought tolerant once established, Nigra is the dramatic backbone plant every cottage garden deserves.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam
Preferred Temp65-75°F
Growth Stats
96 in
Height
24 in
Width
36 in
Spacing
365–365
Days to Harvest
PeriodBiennial
TypeUpright
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-9
Size
96in H x 24in W
Growth
Biennial
Care
High
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Highlights
What makes Nigra truly unforgettable is the depth of its color, those nearly black petals are unlike anything else in the garden, paired with cheerful yellow centers that create striking contrast. This variety blooms prolifically over an extended season from June through November, and as a self-seeding short-term perennial, it often returns year after year without replanting. The tall, upright stalks are also magnets for pollinators, turning your garden into a living stage for bees and butterflies.
Common Uses
Nigra hollyhock is grown primarily as an ornamental flower that anchors the back of borders and cottage gardens with its commanding height and dramatic color. The tall, stately stems are prized for fresh flower arrangements, where the deep maroon blooms create sophisticated, gothic-inspired bouquets. Its pollinator-rich flowers make it equally valuable in gardens designed to support bees and other beneficial insects.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Late Spring
First Harvest
N/a
Last Harvest
N/a
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Sow seeds indoors in pots about 6 to 8 weeks before your transplant-out date. Press seeds lightly onto the surface or into the soil to a depth of no more than 1/8 inch. Place the containers at 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 days to break dormancy, then move them to a warm location at 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the soil moist by placing a humidity dome over the containers until germination occurs, which typically takes 13 to 25 days after the chill period.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date in your zone. Space plants 36 inches apart in a location with full sun and good air circulation. Harden off indoor-started seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before planting.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors in spring to summer for flowers the following year, pressing them lightly onto the soil surface in your selected bed.
Pruning
Deadhead spent flowers regularly throughout the blooming season to encourage continuous flower production on the tall stalks. Remove any diseased or damaged leaves at the base of the plant to maintain good air circulation and reduce fungal problems. Once flowering is complete in fall, you can cut plants back or leave them standing as winter interest, allow some seed heads to mature if you want the plant to self-seed for next year.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Drought TolerantAttracts Pollinators
Bloom Time
Summer To Fall
Scientific Classification
Alcea L.
Family
Malvaceae
Genus
Alcea
Duration
Biennial
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)CAN (I)
History & Origin
“Nigra belongs to the venerable Alcea rosea lineage, a genus with roots stretching back through centuries of European cottage gardens and horticultural tradition. As an heirloom variety, this cultivar represents the accumulated selection work of gardeners who recognized and perpetuated the striking dark coloration that sets it apart from common pink and red hollyhocks. Its preservation as an open-pollinated variety means gardeners can save seed year to year, continuing the centuries-old practice of plant stewardship that defines heirloom gardening.”