PlantFiles: Hollyhock
Alcea rosea var. nigra

Started from seeds last year. Planted beside a concrete block shed in poor soil with no amendments. After an extremely mild winter in Kentucky the plant is almost 6 feet tall with numerous buds. It needs to be staked since we have had a very windy spring. I will pass along photos when it blooms!

Wow! What amazing blooms! You'll definitely want to stake these. Mine were at least 6 feet tall and had blooms almost all the way up the stalk. I had thought they were done blooming about a week-2 weeks ago, so I was really surprised to find more blooms open today!

I'm definitely going to try to collect seeds from these and grow them in other areas/give some away to friends.

Taken from an excerpt from somewhere in my research.

“Black Hollyhock was described as early as 1629 by John Parkinson, as being “of a dark red-like black blood”, an apt description for the large single flowers that grace this plant in June and July. The Boston nurseryman, John B. Russ, offered seeds of “Black Antwerp Hollyhock: Althea nigra” in a forty-two page catalogue published in 1827. Although classed as a biennial, Hollyhock often lives for several years, like a perennial. Sow seeds in summer. The plants will form large rosettes of round, hairy leaves by autumn, and will bloom the following summer with stalks 6 to 8 feet tall. Hollyhocks thrive in full sun and in soils that are not too rich or wet. Zones 3-8.”

By the way, I highly recommend you stake this plant. Mine are surrounded on 3 sides by a wall behind & a bush each side. They were knocked down and bent my not-so strong winds. I have had some problems with powdery mildew-taken care of by a fungicide spray, Japanese beetles, this blue and red flying bugs that look somewhat like a moth, and leaf-miners.

I planted mine form small pots last fall, and they have been growing into 7 feet tall plants, no flowers yet, fat buds yes.
The foliage is very ugly on my plant, it's rusty and has dried up leaves all over from the rust.
I will not replant it.

I wish I could rate my experience with this plant as VERY POSITIVE because I really love this plant.It was one of the first plants in my garden.The color is very nice, great to have in the border.I have my whole sidewalk lined with these guys, a true sight for sore eyes.
I just can't say enough good things about this plant. I highly recommend it.

I started this from seed last summer and it wintered over very well. I didn't even bother to trim it back since it wasn't that tall. It grew like gangbusters this Spring and is now almost 3 feet high. It's first flower opened on June 12th. I love the color! I've read that you should cut back to 6" in the fall. I guess I'll have to do that this year. I'm trying to get some more to grow from seed. If I get seed from mine this year, I'll be happy to share with others!

While I don't grow this particular named one, I do grow another "black" hollyhock- 'The Watchman'. In my humble, non-expert opinion there isn't much difference in them at all. The only differences I have noted are the fact that there are "black" single flowered varieties and also there are double flowered ones. Irregardless of what name they go by I love them!

Grown by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello, but mentioned even earlier by John Parkinson in 1629. He described this single hollyhock as being "of a darke red like blackwood. Appears black on overcast days, but will have a hint of red in the bright sun. Plant next to a white fence for a spectacular contrast. Self-seeding biennial, 5-6' tall.

ped i think its a biannual most hollyhocks are,i know i grow night watchman it was a the nices hollyhock i ever grow and wouldnt you know it's a biannual what a bummer

When I bought this plant, it was called a Texas Hollyhock. when it bloomed, it was the most beautiful flower and I was so happy. That was last year, this year it did not return, at all.

Love this magnificent plant. The flowers are absolutely the closest you will find to black anywhere. I have several black hollyhocks and this one is the truest. Love it!

One of the 'black' flowered cultivars of Hollyhock. It bears large, dark purple/maroon flowers with a pale yellow throat.