Hollyhock 'Bishy Barnabee Mix' Seeds

Alcea rosea 'Bishy Barnabee Mix' is a robust Hardy Biennial (H5). It follows the iconic two-year cycle of the traditional English cottage garden: spending its first summer building a deep, resilient taproot and a lush rosette of foliage, followed by a spectacular vertical display in its second summer.

The "House Blend" Advantage: We created this mix to ensure a long flowering season and maximum visual variety. By combining single and double flower forms, you get a mix of textures that appeal to both the eye and to local wildlife. It is specifically designed to self-seed, meaning your garden will continue to evolve its own unique colour palette year after year.

Pollinator Haven: The single-flowered varieties within this mix are a particular favourite for British bumblebees. Their wide-open saucers provide an easy-access nectar source during the height of summer, making this mix a vital addition to any biodiversity-focused garden.

Hollyhocks develop a strong taproot very early on, so they perform best when root disturbance is kept to an absolute minimum.

How to Sow:
Sow indoors in April to May or directly outdoors from June to July. If sowing in pots, we strongly recommend using deep modules or root trainers. Sow the large seeds about 1cm deep. Keep at 15-20°C; germination usually occurs within 14-21 days.

Where to Plant:
They demand full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. This mix reaches majestic heights of up to 2.2 metres, so it is best suited for the back of a border. Planting against a warm, sunny wall or a sturdy fence is ideal, as it provides both radiant heat and shelter from strong summer winds.

Ongoing Care:
To prevent "Hollyhock Rust" (orange spots), water only at the base of the plant and avoid getting the leaves wet. In exposed or windy UK gardens, these giants will require the support of a bamboo cane. After flowering, you can leave a few seed heads to ripen and drop, allowing the plant to self-perpetuate in its own "wild" way.

Combine these architectural giants with other cottage classics for a perfectly tiered border. Pair them with these available stars:

• 💙 Delphinium 'Summer Skies': The Blue Contrast. True blue is a rare colour in the hollyhock world. Planting sky-blue Delphiniums alongside your mixed Hollyhocks adds the missing piece of the colour puzzle and creates a breathtaking vertical display.
• 🦊 Foxglove 'Excelsior Mix': The Succession Plan. Foxgloves usually flower in June, just as the Hollyhocks are beginning their ascent. Planting both ensures you have a continuous wall of vertical spires from early summer through to autumn.

Sow in summer for architectural leafy rosettes in Year 1, followed by a majestic tapestry of colour in Year 2.