The black Hollyhock
A couple of years ago I started growing black Hollyhocks in my garden. I suppose they are more of an extremely dark burgundy, but they are called black.
Nothing much happened for the first two years that I grew them. They grew but didn’t produce flowers. I suppose they must have sprouted a new plant or two somehow though, as the two clumps of black hollyhocks that I’ve been growing finally decided to bloom last year.
Hollyhocks are biennial plants. That means that they usually only grow green leaves in the first year, and do not produce any flowers. In their second year they often bloom profusely. If you grow plants that are biennial you should plant new plants two or more years in a row so that you can have some bloom from some of them each year.
Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information.
March 18th, 2007 at 6:59 am
Great idea. I have added an image and a link to your site. Please add my blog to your ever growing list of participants.
Thanks
March 18th, 2007 at 8:41 am
What a rich color that is. And it’s a lovely contrast to the pale leaves. lovely
March 18th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
I tried growing the black - not too much success yet. Yours are certainly beautiful. I have had good success with the double hollyhocks - but I would still like to flower the black.
March 19th, 2007 at 2:04 am
I tossed a few hollyhock seeds in my beds last fall and they are coming up nicely - I hope they look as beautiful as yours when they finally bloom!
March 19th, 2007 at 2:22 am
Wow there is a lovely irredescence to that colour!
March 19th, 2007 at 4:00 am
Great flowers! I do like the colours - ought to be a goth favourite
March 19th, 2007 at 9:23 am
That one I’ve never seen. Interesting.
March 19th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
I was wondering how you got those to flower indoors when I realized that it probably isn’t permanently winter from where you hail… sigh (mind my Ottawa bitterness), very pretty.
March 19th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Those are beautiful. What a wonderful color.
Here for C&C Monday via the blogroll. Have a great week.
March 19th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
Your hollyhocks are beautiful.
I grew black hollyhocks at my old house.
I liked the flowers, but the leaves would get brown and,
full of bugs and nasty looking.
So I stopped growing them when I moved.
Your pictures are great.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
I love your site - I just started a garden ste and I would love a link exchange if you are interested!!