PlantFiles: Hollyhock
Alcea rosea 'Peaches 'n Dreams'

Sept., 2007--I have memories from the 1950s of the hollyhocks in my grandmother's beautiful gardens. Over the past couple of years, I felt I wanted to try to grow some myself. I bought Alcea rosea 'Peaches 'n' Dreams' this past May, spent the summer watching it grow, and finally the day came when the first buds opened. What an incredible flower and color! It was worth the wait. Unfortunately, I think our dry summer held it back somewhat. Even so, as of today it's slightly over 6'. I also planted seeds of the older, single-flower kind. I now have a lot of small plants that I hope will return to flower next year. I also intend to open another small garden in the spring just for hollyhocks, including the older kind.

I purchased this hollyhock in a 12 inch plant in 2005...I had 5 ft. tall plants with beautiful flowers the first year. This year, my hollyhocks are 9-10 ft. tall....I kid you not! They are so heavy with flowers that we have them staked, tied and propped up. They were the anchor type plant on our front porch but now have grown so big, we will have to move them next year 'cause we can't see out the front of the porch!

'Peaches 'n Dreams' was recommended to me by another plant collector. I don't know if it was mistakingly labeled at the nursery or if it reverted, but it ended up blooming single, dark pink and white blooms. I took it out.

My information on this plant says that it is hardy in zones 3-9.

I bought a small plant last year and had to wait until this year for the flowers, but they were worth waiting for.

This was my first year with this plant and it was in a 4" pot when I bought it. It grew to be a big plant with huge big flowers. We had a cool rainy August which probably accounts for it's intense color. Love this plant!