Happy Lights Fig Hollyhock is a striking heirloom cultivar of Alcea ficifolia that brings reliable color to northern gardens, thriving in zones 3 and up. These towering plants reach 6 to 8 feet tall and produce an extended parade of blooms from early summer through fall, drawing pollinators with every flower. Once established, they laugh at dry spells, making them a low-maintenance backbone for cottage gardens and pollinator havens. The fig-leaf foliage gives this hollyhock its botanical distinction, while the 'Happy Lights' name hints at the cheerful flower display that justifies its space in any serious perennial border.
2
Full Sun
Moderate
3-3
96in H x 24in W
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Moderate
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This heirloom hollyhock combines old-fashioned charm with genuine hardiness and drought tolerance once it settles in. The extended bloom window from June through November keeps the garden lively when many other perennials have faded, and the tall, narrow growth habit (24 inches wide, 72 to 96 inches tall) slots elegantly into tight spaces where other garden plants sprawl. Its preference for full sun and moderate water, paired with the appeal to bees and butterflies, makes it both beautiful and ecologically valuable.
This is a flowering ornamental grown for its tall, dramatic vertical presence in borders and cottage gardens. The extended summer-to-fall bloom sequence makes it valuable for extending garden color late into the season, while its pollinator-attracting flowers serve an ecological role in supporting bees and other beneficial insects.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow indoors in pots 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Place seeds on the surface or press them lightly into soil (no deeper than 1/8 inch). Chill the pots at 35 to 40°F for 10 days to break dormancy, then move to warmth at 65 to 70°F. Cover containers with a humidity dome to keep soil consistently moist. Expect germination in 13 to 25 days after the chill period.
Harden off seedlings over a week or two before moving them outdoors after your last frost date. Transplant into full sun in well-draining soil, spacing plants 2 inches apart.
Direct sow in spring through summer for flowering the following year. Press seeds lightly on the soil surface or into the top 1/8 inch.
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