Growing Queeny Purple Hollyhock Garden Seeds

Queeny Purple hollyhock generally grows so hardy and vigorously that there is little reason to start seeds indoors. Sow directly after final frost in a sunny spot at the north end of the garden and shelter from strong winds. However, for earliest blooming, start Queeny Purple Mixture seeds indoors 10-12 weeks prior. Hollyhock seeds can be slow to germinate and may take 21-28 days with full lighting. Early plants may need staking in addition to wind protection. Plants will easily reseed and stick around year after year. Plant 2-3 Queeny Purple Mixture hollyhock seeds ¼ inch deep and 12-24 inches apart in average, medium moist, and well-drained soil in full sun. Hollyhock is drought tolerant but avoid overhead watering to minimize wetting foliage as Queeny Purple Mixture is susceptible to molds, mildews, rust, leaf spots, and rot if not properly ventilated. No serious pests but monitor regularly for spider mites and Japanese beetles. Queeny Purple hollyhock seeds are perennials and mature in their 2nd year as 18-36 inch tall upright with a 12-24 inch wide spread of 3-4 inch feathered "powder puff" blooms in shades of fuchsia, pink, rose, and magenta. Plants will vigorously reseed themselves and stick around in the garden for as long as you'll have them around.

Queeny Purple hollyhock is a 2004 All-American Selection Flower Winner noted by AAS judges for its "prolific first year flowering" and "season-long" color." Alcea rosea, or most commonly known as Common Hollyhock, is native to many temperate expanses in Asia and Europe. In Japan, hollyhock is called aoi and has been an important symbol in Japanese history and culture. It was incorporated as the official seal of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the flower still holds an important place in modern Japanese culture. During the Victorian era, the hollyhock symbolized both "ambition" and "fecundity" in the famous Language of Flowers.