‘Black Watchman’ Heirloom Hollyhock Seeds

Hollyhocks - Black Watchman (Heirloom) - Alcea rosea Bienniel - Satiny hibiscus-like blossoms. Deep maroon shades to pure black. Flowers unfurl on tall stalks for a striking garden display. Re-selected heirloom. Soil & Water: Sow in ordinary garden soil or seed starting mix. Maintain moisture during germination. Feed well and prune down after flowering to push a second fall bloom. Planting & Growing: Begin indoors (8 weeks before last frost, sowing 2" apart in containers of seed starting mix) or outdoors after all frosts have past.

Variety Details

• Botanical name: Alcea rosea
• Plant type: Biennial
• Growth habit: Upright
• Crop category: Flower seed
• Flower character: Soil & Water: Sow in ordinary garden soil or seed starting mix.
• Recorded feature: Good Cut Flower
• Product format: Seed packet

Sowing & Growing

• Soil Temperature: above 50°F
• Planting Depth: 1/2"
• Germination: 7-14 Days
• Height At Maturity: 5-7 feet
• Sun/Shade: Full Sun
• Spacing After Thinning: 18-24"

Prepare a weed-reduced seedbed for ‘Black Watchman’ Heirloom Hollyhock and use the recorded planting season, depth, and light requirements. Press shallow-sown seed into good soil contact and keep the seed zone from drying during establishment. Thin or transplant only when the growth habit and spacing call for it. Leave enough room for mature width and air movement. Bloom timing and final height can shift with sowing date, climate, soil, moisture, and competition, so use listed figures as planning ranges.

Place ‘Black Watchman’ Heirloom Hollyhock where its recorded height and growth habit fit the surrounding planting. Shorter companions can be positioned toward bed edges, while taller stems need room where they will not shade small seedlings too early. If cutting flowers, harvest with clean tools at the stage appropriate to the bloom form. If leaving flowers in place, observe how bloom sequence changes through the season and record which sowing date performed best at the site.

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