Favorite Summer Blooming Flowers: Hollyhocks

Whenever I am asked what my favorite summer flowers are, hollyhocks are always in my Top 5.

When spring arrives and their tall stems start to grow, I eagerly anticipate the appearance of the first blooms.

Hollyhocks come in many different colors. I plant an assortment of colors every year and am always excited to see what color flower each plant will produce.

This summer, I had quite a few pink flowers.

Hummingbirds and butterflies particularly like the deep red blooms.

In addition to pink and red, you will find them in other colors such as apricot, purple, white, yellow and even black. Hollyhocks also come in “double forms”, which I love with their ruffled petals.

Hollyhocks are easily grown from seed. I allow my flowers to fade and let the seeds fall to the ground where they will come up the next year without any special attention from me. I always have these flowers blooming for me every year. The birds also enjoy the seeds too!

Hollyhocks attract birds, butterflies and bees. They are biennials, which means that they grow leaves during their first year and bloom the second year before going to seed and dying. My favorite spot in my summer garden always has tall 4 to 8 ft. stalks of hollyhocks blooming.

Do you grow these flowers? What are your favorite colors?