Hollyhock 'Nigra' Seeds
If you want to add drama, mystery, and a touch of gothic elegance to your borders, 'Nigra' is essential. Also known by its heritage name 'The Watchman', this spectacular variety produces towering spikes of large, single, silky flowers in a shade of maroon so deep it looks like glossy black chocolate.
Most hollyhocks are pastel and fluffy; 'Nigra' is sleek and architectural. The dark central eye and pale creamy style (the pollen part) create a stunning contrast that draws pollinators in from miles away. Whether growing against a white cottage wall or in a modern, moody planting scheme, it creates a vertical black exclamation mark that demands attention.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Hollyhock 'Nigra' is a classic Hardy Biennial.
It follows the traditional two-year cycle.
Year 1: You sow the seeds in summer. The plant grows a large rosette of rough, heart-shaped leaves.
Year 2: It sends up a majestic 2-metre flower spike, blooms all summer, sets seed, and then dies (though it often self-seeds to replace itself!).
Top Tip: Hollyhocks hate "Rust" (a fungal disease that causes orange spots). To prevent it, give 'Nigra' plenty of space for air to circulate and water only at the base, never on the leaves.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Hollyhocks have deep taproots, so handle them with care.
Germination:
Sow indoors in April-May or outdoors in June-July. Sow seeds 1cm deep. If sowing indoors, use deep pots (like root trainers) to accommodate the long root. Germination takes 14-21 days.
Where to Sow:
They need full sun and rich, well-drained soil. A spot against a wall or fence is ideal as it provides shelter from the wind and radiates heat, which helps ripen the seeds.
Care While Growing:
Planting Out: Move young plants to their final position in September/October so they can establish roots before winter.
Support: 'Nigra' can reach 2 metres (6ft+). Unless you have a very sheltered walled garden, you will need to stake the main stem to stop it snapping in summer storms.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Alcea rosea |
| Common Name | Hollyhock 'Nigra' / The Watchman |
| Hardiness | H5 (Hardy Biennial) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 1.8m - 2.4m (Very Tall) |
| Spread | ↔️ 60cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 60cm apart |
| Great for | ⚫ Dark/Gothic Themes 🐝 Bees (Single Flower) 🏰 Back of Border 🏠 Wall-Side Planting |
| Seed Count | Approx. 50 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
The black flowers need light, bright partners so they don't disappear into the shadows:
- ☁️ Cosmos 'Purity': The Monochrome Look. The pure white, airy flowers of Cosmos Purity provide a stark, sophisticated contrast to the heavy, black columns of the Hollyhock.
- 🍋 Larkspur 'Limelight Mix': The Zesty Lift. The greenish-white spikes of the Larkspur act as a highlight, making the dark maroon of the Hollyhock look richer and warmer by comparison.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow in summer. Plant out in autumn. Flowers the following summer.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Outdoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | ||||||||
| Plant Out | 🌱 | 🌱 | ||||||||||
| Flowers (Yr 2) | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
⚠️ Skin Irritation
The stems and leaves of Hollyhocks are covered in rough, bristly hairs that can be irritating to sensitive skin. We recommend wearing gloves when staking or cutting down the plants.
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
'Nigra' is a magnet for bees. Unlike double varieties, its single, open shape allows bumblebees easy access to the plentiful pollen and nectar inside.
- Regular price
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£2.20 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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£2.20
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