A white hollyhock stands out in a garden full of colour. From a distance the flower spires look pale and almost silvery, and up close the petals have a papery, crepe-like texture. Some have a faint pink or yellow centre.
A pale giant
Hollyhocks reach about two metres tall, so white ones act like living columns at the back of a border. They look especially good against a dark fence, a red brick wall or a stand of tall green shrubs. In the evening the pale flowers catch the last light, making them a good choice for outdoor dining areas.
Open saucers or frilly doubles
- Single whites have a wide open saucer and are easy for bees to enter.
- Double whites look like frilly pompoms and hide the centre, so they offer less to pollinators.
Sowing white hollyhocks
White hollyhocks come true from seed fairly reliably, but seedlings can pick up other colours if different types flower nearby. In temperate Australia, sow seed in autumn so plants form a good root before the first winter, or in early spring for flowers the following summer. Thin seedlings to about 50 centimetres apart. Deep, rich soil, mulch and regular watering produce the tallest spikes.
Staying healthy
Leaf rust is the main complaint, particularly in humid coastal areas. Remove spotted leaves, clean up fallen foliage in autumn, and space plants so air can move between them. In the tropics the plant struggles with the climate.
Cutting hollyhocks
Stems can be cut when the lower buds have opened, though the upper buds may not follow. Use them in tall floor vases rather than small bunches.
