Hollyhock 'Summer Carnival' Seeds

Traditional hollyhocks are biennials, requiring two years to flower. 'Summer Carnival' breaks the rules. If sown early in the year, this award-winning variety will shoot up and bloom in its very first summer. It produces fully double, peony-like flowers that look like crinkled powder puffs in a carnival of shades: pink, red, yellow, and white.

These plants are slightly shorter and stockier than the giant single varieties (though still reaching a respectable 5-6 feet). Because the flowers are double, they last longer on the stem and look incredibly opulent, adding a heavy, luxurious texture to the back of the border.

Why Your Garden Needs 'Summer Carnival'

We love this plant for its speed and texture. Most gardeners are impatient, and waiting two years for a flower can feel like a lifetime. With 'Summer Carnival', you get that instant "established cottage garden" look in a single season.

The double flowers are also fantastic for cutting. Because they are so full of petals, they hold their shape well in a vase. Floating a few of these heavy heads in a shallow bowl of water makes a stunning table centrepiece.

Understanding the Plant: Annual or Biennial?

Hollyhock 'Summer Carnival' is a Hardy Annual / Short-Lived Perennial.

It gives you two choices:
Option A (Fast Track): Sow indoors in January/February, and it will flower this summer (acting as an annual).
Option B (Traditional): Sow outdoors in June/July, and it will build a huge root system to flower spectacularly next summer (acting as a biennial).
Top Tip: Because the flower heads are heavy with petals, these plants appreciate a stake if you live in a windy spot!

Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow

These seeds are large and easy to handle.

🌱 Germination:
For first-year flowers, sow indoors early (Jan-March) in deep pots. Cover seeds lightly (5mm). Keep warm (15-20°C). For next-year flowers, sow outdoors in seedbeds May-July. Germination takes 14-21 days.

Where to Sow:
They need full sun. They are slightly more compact than traditional hollyhocks but still need space (60cm apart) to allow airflow around the leaves, which helps prevent rust.

Care While Growing:
Water regularly. The "double" flowers hold more water than singles, so after a heavy rainstorm, give the stems a gentle shake to release the weight and stop them snapping.

Plant Specifications

Here is a quick reference guide to the key features.

My Recommended Garden Companions

These double flowers are heavy and rich, so they look best with lighter, airier companions to balance them out:

• ❄️ Gypsophila 'Covent Garden': The perfect skirt. Plant white Gypsophila around the base of the Hollyhocks. The frothy white flowers hide the heavy stems and create a "cloud" effect that makes the double Hollyhock blooms look even more impressive.
• ☁️ Cosmos 'Purity': Hollyhocks are vertical; Cosmos are bushy. Planting them together gives you a full wall of flower and foliage, ensuring there are no gaps in your border.

📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar

Sow early (Jan-Mar) for flowers this year, or summer (Jun-Jul) for flowers next year.

(↔️ Swipe chart to see all months)