Rugose Hollyhock is a hardy heirloom that commands attention from early summer through late fall, sending up tall spires of blooms that can reach 6 to 8 feet tall. This cold-hardy cultivar thrives in zones 4 through 4, making it a reliable choice for northern gardeners seeking a classic cottage garden flower that doesn't demand constant attention. Once established, it handles dry spells with ease while attracting pollinators throughout its extended bloom season.
2
Full Sun
Moderate
4-4
96in H x 30in W
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Moderate
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Rugose Hollyhock delivers an unusually long flowering window, blooming from June all the way through November, which means months of vertical interest when many gardens are tiring. Its drought tolerance once established gives it staying power in neglectful spots, and the compact 30-inch spread means you can tuck these tall sentinels into borders without excessive footprint. Cold hardiness down to zone 4 opens doors for northern gardeners who've struggled to keep hollyhocks reliably alive year after year.
Rugose Hollyhock grows as an ornamental flower, prized for vertical garden architecture, cottage garden schemes, and cutting. Its towering stems and extended bloom season make it valuable for pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies seeking sustained nectar through the summer and into fall.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors in pots approximately 6 to 8 weeks before your planned outdoor planting date. Press seeds into the surface or barely cover them (depth no more than 1/8 inch). Place pots in a humidity dome or clear plastic tent to maintain moisture. Start at 35 to 40°F for 10 days to stratify the seeds, then move to warmer conditions of 65 to 70°F. Hollyhock seeds germinate irregularly over a long period, so patience is essential; keep soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date in your area. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before planting. Space plants 2 inches apart in their final location.
Direct sow seeds in late spring to early summer by pressing them lightly into soil at the surface or to a depth of no more than 1/8 inch.
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