Hollyhock

Value to bees

Nectar

High

Pollen

Very high

As a honey crop

Not a honey source

Which bees, and why

Hollyhock pollen grains are among the largest of any flowering plant, and bees emerge visibly coated in them. Bumblebees frequently sleep inside the flowers overnight, and the downy stems attract wool carder bees.

Very large open saucers with a central staminal column — completely accessible, and only in the single-flowered forms.

Worth knowing

A generous nectar source and an outstanding pollen source, with exceptionally large grains.

Flowering

In flower

June to September (northern hemisphere)

A long summer season, with flowers opening progressively up the spire.

Growing it

Conditions

Full sun on rich well-drained soil with shelter from wind. Rust is the near-universal problem.

Size

1.5-2.5 m tall.

Native range

Probably southwestern China. Grown in gardens across the temperate world for centuries.

Suits

Small gardens, Large gardens, Containers and window boxes

• Grow single-flowered forms only. Fully double hollyhocks have had their stamens bred into petals and offer almost nothing.
• Hollyhock rust is close to inevitable; remove affected leaves and accept it, or grow the more resistant Alcea rugosa.
• Biennial to short-lived perennial; let it self-seed.

What it looks like

Very tall unbranched spires of large saucer-shaped flowers in pink, red, white, yellow or near-black, above large rough lobed leaves.