Hollyhock Single Mix produces tall flower spikes lined with large, open blooms in shades of pink, red, yellow, cream and deep burgundy. Each flower has one broad row of petals around a visible centre, creating a lighter and more natural appearance than double Hollyhocks.

Hollyhock is an old cultivated flower linked botanically to Türkiye and western Asia. It grows best during cool to mild weather and creates an impressive display beside fences, along walls and at the back of flower beds.

Why Grow It

• Tall Display: Upright flower spikes add height behind shorter plants.
• Mixed Colours: One packet may produce several soft and deep shades.
• Open Flowers: Visible centres make pollen and nectar easier for bees to reach.
• Long Display: Buds open gradually from the bottom of each spike upwards.

Best Conditions

• Germination: Usually 10–21 days
• Temperature: Around 18–24°C
• Sunlight: At least 6 hours
• Pot size: 12–18-inch-wide and deep pot
• Spacing: About 18–24 inches between plants
• Plant height: Usually around 5–7 feet
• Flower size: Approximately 3–5 inches
• Soil: Fertile, moist and well-draining mix

In Lahore and Faisalabad, sow from September to November. In Islamabad and Rawalpindi, sow from September to October with protection during severe frost, or again from late February to March. In hotter areas such as Karachi and southern Punjab, sow from October to December after the strongest summer heat has eased. In colder northern and hilly areas, sow from March to April after the risk of hard frost has passed.

How to Sow

Hollyhock develops a deep main root, so sow directly where the plants will remain or use individual pots for an early transplant.

1. Fill individual pots or prepare the final bed with fine, moist soil.
2. Sow one or two seeds per pot, or place them thinly along the bed.
3. Press the seeds gently and cover them with around ⅛ inch of soil.
4. Water the surface gently using a fine spray.
5. Keep the soil lightly moist in a bright location.
6. At 3–4 true leaves, thin or transplant seedlings 18–24 inches apart.

Plant Care

Water regularly while the young plants are becoming established. Once they are stronger, water when the upper soil begins to dry. Apply water near the base because repeatedly wet leaves can encourage fungal problems.

Mix a small amount of Vermicompost into the final soil before sowing or transplanting. Further feeding is usually unnecessary in reasonably fertile soil. Heavy feeding can produce soft growth that bends easily.

Hollyhock rust may cause yellow or orange spots above the leaves and brown powdery marks underneath. Remove affected lower leaves and clear fallen plant material. If aphids or spider mites appear, spray Neem Oil on the affected foliage while avoiding open flowers.

Local Gardener Tips

• Protect new seedlings from strong watering and heavy rain.
• Install a stake before the main flower spike becomes tall.
• Grow one plant in each large, heavy container for better balance.
• Leave space beside walls so air can move around the leaves.

Flowering

Plants started in early autumn may flower from late spring into early summer. Traditional Hollyhocks are often biennial, so some plants may form only a leafy base during their first season and flower during the next suitable season.

Flowers open gradually from the lower part of the spike towards the top. Remove faded individual blooms to keep the display neat, then cut the entire stalk near the base after flowering has finished.

Common names: Hollyhock, Common Hollyhock, Gul Khaira, Alcea rosea, گل خیرا