Checkerbloom 'Little Princess' is a compact perennial that brings the charm of miniature hollyhocks to gardens in hardiness zones 4 to 7. Bred in 1994 by Dutch breeder Aad Geerlings, this cultivar grows 18 to 24 inches tall and produces long spikes of delicate pink to pink-purple flowers from July through August. The blooms are excellent for cutting, and with low maintenance requirements and moderate watering needs, this plant rewards gardeners who give it full sun and consistently moist soil.
Full Sun
Moderate
4-7
24in H x 18in W
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Moderate
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Checkerbloom 'Little Princess' flowers over a generous two-month window, from mid-July through August, with spire-like spikes that resemble tiny hollyhock blooms stacked along upright stems. At just 18 to 24 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide, the compact habit fits seamlessly into borders and containers without overwhelming the garden. These flowers cut beautifully and last in the vase, making them a practical choice for fresh arrangements.
Checkerbloom 'Little Princess' serves primarily as an ornamental perennial, valued for its long-blooming flower spikes in gardens and borders. The showy pink-purple flowers are especially prized for cutting, bringing that spire-like character into fresh flower arrangements throughout the peak of summer.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Cut flower spikes for arrangements when the lower flowers on the spike are open and well-colored, typically from mid-July through August. This encourages the plant to continue blooming and provides fresh cut flowers for indoor display.
Remove spent flower spikes throughout the growing season to encourage additional flowering and extend the bloom period. In fall, cut the entire plant back to the basal foliage at ground level to tidy the plant and prepare it for winter dormancy.
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“This variety emerged from deliberate breeding work in the Netherlands, developed in 1994 by Aad Geerlings in Hummelo. The cross involved two unidentified seedling selections of Sidalcea oregana, a species native to Western and Central North America. Geerlings introduced 'Little Princess' through Future Plants V.O.F., bringing the genetics of wild prairie mallows into a refined, garden-scale package that would appeal to contemporary gardeners seeking compact perennials.”