- Botanical name: Alcea 'O Hara'
- Common name: Hollyhock
- Family: Malvaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial, Deciduous
Red
Green
- Key features:
- Flowers
- Prefers rich soil
The hollyhock, Alcea, is a classic English cottage garden plant, forming tall erect racemes of large, fully open blooms from summer to early autumn. Hollyhocks are typically perennial, but they’re often grown as biennials due to their susceptibility to the fungal disease rust, which can disfigure leaves.
Alcea ‘O Hara’ is a double-flowered hollyhock cultivar, bearing masses of fully double, bright scarlet blooms, on tall stems. It’s perfect for a mixed herbaceous border and makes an excellent cut flower. For best results grow in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Flowers may be spoiled by wind and rain, so choose a sheltered spot if possible. Cut down Alcea ‘O Hara’ after flowering, to encourage fresh basal growth.
How to grow Alcea 'O Hara'
-
Plant size
80cm height
50cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Middle, back
- Sun exposure: Full sun, dappled shade
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy / clay / heavy / moist / chalky / alkaline / acidic
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | ||||||||||||
| Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do not Sow in February |
M
Do Sow in March |
A
Do Sow in April |
M
Do not Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do not Sow in September |
O
Do not Sow in October |
N
Do not Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Divide | ||||||||||||
| Divide |
J
Do not Divide in January |
F
Do not Divide in February |
M
Do not Divide in March |
A
Do not Divide in April |
M
Do not Divide in May |
J
Do not Divide in June |
J
Do not Divide in July |
A
Do not Divide in August |
S
Do Divide in September |
O
Do Divide in October |
N
Do not Divide in November |
D
Do not Divide in December |
Alcea 'O Hara' and wildlife
Alcea 'O Hara' has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Alcea 'O Hara' poisonous?
Alcea 'O Hara' has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Alcea 'O Hara'
