July 8, 2007

So many hollyhocks to choose from, so little garden space!
Have no fear, Wuv'n Acres© is here!




Shown above is our Black Cherry Fig...just one of many Alcea Ficifolia
BLACK CHERRY FIGTM A very deep, almost black purple!

SO WHICH VARIETY IS WHICH?

Alcea nigra, Alcea rosea, Alcea rugosa...you've seen them all, yes?

So you've strolled through your pile of garden seed catalogs
and now you're overwhelmed with which type of Hollyhock to order?
Sit back, relax, and we'll do a little Hollyhock 101.

There are several strains of Hollyhock.

The Alcea ficifolia
Commonly known as the Fig Leaved Hollyhock.
You may be familiar with the term "Happy Lights". These are fig leaved hocks.
We carry several different colors of the Fig Leaved.
They are thought to be more rust resistant than standard hocks.
Though I found this to be true, I also think they are tastier to insects.

The Alcea rosea
Is very common. You may be familiar with company names such as
Chater's Double, Fordhook Giants, Summer Carnival, Peaches -n- Dreams, Appleblossom, Chamois,
Chestnut, Double Apricot, Pink, White, Country Garden, Pinafore, Farmyard, East Coast,
Golden Eye, Pioneer, Icicle, Imperator, Lemon Light, Newport, Norma Avery, Sawyers, Scarlet Eye,
Silk Ruffles, Simplex, Victoria Heart and Waysides Old Barnyard.
Also...Pom Pom Mix, Indian Spring, Double Mixed, Old Fashioned Mix, Creme de Cassis,
Double Apricot, Majorette, Reds & Pinks Mix, Powder Puff Mix, Simplex, Triumph, etc.

The Alcea nigra
A term used for 'black'. The Watchman, Jet Black, Nigra Erfurter,
Black Beauty, After Midnight and Arabian Nights are just a few terms used to describe
the very deep purple blooms. In light, they reveal a purple center,
though some are darker and some strains tend to lean towards
the lighter purple shades when the gene is prominent.

The Alcea rugosa
Said to be a Russian hollyhock
with yellow blooms.

The Alcea setosa
Guimauve soyeuse
A wild species with yellow blooms which is very hard to find!


  • Fertilizing

  • When to plant

  • Which variety is which?

  • Cross pollination issues

  • Cleaning up after your Hocks

  • Our available colors in seed form

  • Diseases and pest of the Hollyhock

  • Harvesting seeds / cutting back stalks

  • Did you know? Fun trivia about hollyhocks

  • Full sun / part sun / location for your hollyhocks

  • Moving your plants from one location to another



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