How to Grow Hollyhock 'Appleblossom' from Seed

September 16, 2026

Hollyhock Appleblossom tall spires of single blush-pink flowers with gold stamens

Bishy Barnabee's Growing Guides

How to Grow Hollyhock
'Appleblossom' from Seed

The classic cottage garden hollyhock: two-metre spires of single blush-pink flowers fading to white at the edges, each with a boss of gold stamens that bees love.

'Appleblossom' is the hollyhock most people picture when they think of a cottage garden. It sends up spires of two metres or more, lined with single flowers in soft blush pink that fade almost to white at the edges, each with a golden centre.

The single flowers matter. Their open faces give bees easy access to the pollen, which frilled double hollyhocks don't. Stand a row against a warm wall or fence and it will hum with bees through July. Sow it this summer and it flowers next year.

Quick Facts at a Glance

Plant Type

Hardy biennial

Sowing Time

May to July

Flowering

June to August, the following year

Position

Full sun, against a wall or fence

Height

2m or more

Difficulty

2 out of 5, easy

Understanding the Plant

'Appleblossom' is a variety of Alcea rosea, the common hollyhock. It is a biennial: in its first year it makes a rosette of large, rounded leaves, and in its second year it sends up tall flowering spires. Plants often survive for a third season, and they drop plenty of seed.

Hollyhocks have long taproots, which is why they are happiest planted young in their final spot. Once settled, they cope with dry summers and poor ground better than their size suggests.

Let it self-seed

Leave a few spires to set seed at the end of summer. Seedlings will pop up around the base, and you can keep a patch going for years with no further sowing. Move unwanted seedlings while they are small.

When & How to Sow

Sow in late spring or early summer, grow plants on through the summer and plant them out in autumn. They build a strong root over winter and flower the next year.

Use deep pots

Hollyhocks grow a long taproot quickly. Sow in deep modules or 9cm pots, and plant out before the roots start circling the pot.

Sow 1cm deep. Sow one or two seeds per pot or deep module, or direct into a nursery row outdoors. Seedlings usually appear in one to three weeks.
Grow on through summer. Keep plants watered and pot them on if roots fill their containers before autumn.
Plant out in autumn. Plant in September or October, 45 to 60cm apart, in full sun at the back of a border or against a wall or fence.

Growing On Tips

☀️

Warm and sunny

A sunny spot against a wall or fence gives shelter and warmth and shows off the spires.

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Stake in exposed spots

Tall spires with wet flowers catch the wind. Tie them loosely to a strong cane in open gardens.

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A bee magnet

The open single flowers give bees easy access to pollen and nectar all through July.

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Clear rusty leaves

Remove leaves with orange rust spots as soon as you see them, and clear old foliage in autumn.

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Watering

Water young plants until established. Mature hollyhocks cope well with dry spells.

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Self-seeding

Leave a few spires to seed for new plants in years to come.

Common Problems & How to Fix Them

Problem	Likely Cause	What to Do
Orange spots under leaves	Hollyhock rust	Remove affected leaves promptly, clear debris in autumn and give plants good airflow. Rust rarely stops flowering.
No flowers in the first summer	Normal for a biennial	Plants flower in their second year. Sow each summer for flowers every year.
Spires blown over	Wind and rain	Plant against a wall or fence and stake in exposed sites.
Holes in young leaves	Slugs and snails	Protect young plants, especially after autumn planting.
Plants struggle after moving	Damaged taproot	Plant out young and avoid moving established hollyhocks.