Also known as Hollyhock · 1.8k gardener saves
Alcea: the varieties gardeners actually grow
Alcea, the genus most gardeners know as hollyhock. We track 32 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 12 most-saved Alcea varieties
Of 32 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedOld Farmyard Hollyhock
Alcea rosea 'Old Farmyard'
#2 most savedDouble Hollyhock
Alcea x rosea 'Double Hollyhock Mix'
#3 most savedHollyhock Country Mix
Alcea rosealca 'Country Mix'
Double Scarlet Hollyhock
Alcea rosea 'Double Scarlet'
Apricot Hollyhock
Alcea roseae 'Halo Apricot'
Hollyhock Mix
Alcea x hybrida 'Mix'
Hollyhock
Alcea roseaa
Hollyhock Halo Blush
Alcea x hybrida 'Halo Blush'
Hollyhock
Alcea rosa
Double Apricot Hollyhock
Alcea rosea 'Double Apricot'
Brilliant Miniature Hollyhock
Alcea rosea 'Brilliant Miniature'
Queeny Purple Hollyhock
Alcea rosa 'Queeny Purple'
Browse all 32 Alcea varieties →
How to grow Alcea
What the Alcea varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 32 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Alcea year
- StakeApril–June97% of varieties
Install tall stakes early before flower stalks emerge to prevent flopping
- Check for PestsMay–July91% of varieties
Monitor foliage closely for hollyhock rust (orange/brown spots)
- Spring CleanupFebruary and March75% of varieties
Cut back old stalks and dead foliage before new growth begins
- DeadheadJuly and August72% of varieties
Remove spent flower spikes to maintain appearance and limit self-seeding
- PlantMarch and April38% of varieties
Plant transplants in spring or sow seeds for next year's bloom
- FertilizeMarch and April34% of varieties
Apply balanced fertilizer as growth begins in spring
- PruneAugust and September34% of varieties
Cut spent flower stalks back to the ground after blooming.
Do
- Water consistently during dry spells 🌱
- Prune after flowering to promote bushier growth
- Water deeply once a week 🌱
- Mulch to retain soil moisture
- Water deeply once a week during dry spells 🌱
Avoid
- Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot ❌
- Don’t disturb roots during flowering
- Refrain from fertilizing late in the season to prevent weak growth
- Skip fertilizing in late fall
What goes wrong with Alcea
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | Sticky residue and distorted leaves | Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil |
| Japanese beetles | Chewed foliage and skeletonized leaves | Handpick beetles or apply organic beetle traps |
| Japanese Beetles | Chewed leaves and flowers | Handpick or use organic beetle traps |
| Spider Mites | Fine webbing on foliage | Increase humidity and apply insecticidal soap |
| Powdery Mildew | White powder on leaves | Ensure good air circulation and apply neem oil |
| Powdery mildew | White powdery coating on leaves | Improve air circulation and apply neem oil |
| Rust | Orange or rust-colored spots on leaves | Remove affected foliage and apply fungicide |
Making more Alcea
Cuttings
- Take 4-inch softwood cuttings in late spring.
- Dip in rooting hormone and plant in moist soil.
- Keep in warm, shaded area for 6 weeks until roots develop.
Seed
- Tuck seeds into moist soil in early spring
- Keep soil consistently moist for 2-3 weeks
- Thin seedlings to proper spacing after emergence
- Harvest seeds in late summer for next season
Alcea questions
How many types of Alcea are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 32 distinct Alcea varieties. The most popular — ranked by 1.8k real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Alcea grow in?
Across its varieties, Alcea covers USDA Zones 4–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Alcea bloom?
Most Alcea varieties bloom in mid-summer, summer, early summer. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Alcea should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
Design with Alcea in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
