FlowerHollyhock
Black Watchman Hollyhock
Ornamental
Black Watchman Hollyhock is a dramatic biennial flower that reaches 60 to 84 inches tall, crowned with deep, enchanting blooms that command attention in any garden. This frost-hardy cultivar can surprise you with first-year flowers if you start seeds indoors early in spring, though most gardeners will enjoy its spectacular display the following summer. Plant it in full sun with 24 inches of spacing, and you'll be rewarded with towering spires of color that make a bold statement from midsummer straight through fall.
Nikolett Emmert(Pexels License)
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam
Preferred Temp65-85°F
Growth Stats
84 in
Height
PeriodBiennial
TypeUpright
Spacing
18-24 inches apart
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
?-?
Size
84in H x ?in W
Growth
Biennial
Care
High
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Highlights
What sets Black Watchman apart is its remarkable ability to produce not just one flush of flowers but multiple waves throughout the season. Cut back spent flower stalks just above the ground after the first bloom, fertilize generously, and the roots will push up another enchanting display come fall. This is a hollyhock that keeps giving, rewarding attentive gardeners with months of vertical drama and color. Start it early indoors about 8 weeks before your last frost, and you might even catch a glimpse of flowers that first year.
Common Uses
Black Watchman Hollyhock is grown as an ornamental flowering plant, prized for its tall, striking flower spires that add vertical interest and bold color to borders, cottage gardens, and garden backgrounds. The flowers are cut and displayed in arrangements, and the plant itself serves as a dramatic backdrop for shorter perennials and annuals.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Early Summer
First Harvest
N/a
Last Harvest
N/a
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors approximately 8 weeks before your last expected frost date for the best chance at first-year blooms. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and 2 inches apart in flats or individual containers filled with seed starting mix. Provide strong light and keep the mix evenly moist; seeds typically germinate in 7 to 14 days. When seedlings reach 3 to 4 inches tall, gradually acclimate them to outdoor conditions before transplanting.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant hardened-off seedlings outdoors 18 to 24 inches apart after all danger of frost has passed. Space plants generously to allow ample room for mature growth and good air circulation as they reach their full height of 60 to 84 inches.
Pruning
After the first flush of blossoms fades, cut off the spent flower stalks just above the ground. This encourages the roots to push out another enchanting flush of flower spires in fall, extending your display well into the season. Remove any dead or damaged foliage as needed to maintain plant health and appearance.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Soil pH Range
6 – 7
Scientific Classification
Alcea pallida (Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd.) Waldst. & Kit.
Family
Malvaceae
Genus
Alcea
Duration
Biennial, Perennial
Growth Habit
Forb/herb
Native Status
CAN (I)