Flower Specifications
- Season: Perennial
- USDA Zones: 4 - 8
- Height: 48 - 60 inches
- Bloom Season: Summer
- Bloom Color: Purple
- Environment: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Type: Well-drained, pH 5.8 - 7.2
Planting Directions
- Temperature: 65F
- Average Germ Time: 21 - 28 days
- Light Required: Yes
- Depth: Do not cover the seed but press into the soil
- Sowing Rate: 2 - 3 seeds per plant
- Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination
- Plant Spacing: 36 inches
- Care & Maintenance: See: Hollyhock
Hollyhock (Malva Sylvestris Merlin) - What an incredible source of color for the flower garden! Grown from Hollyhock flower seeds, Merlin, produces a rich tapestry of colors; deep violet, purple, mauve and blue. The blooms are 2 inches across and many are striped with a darker shade. Instead of growing straight up a stock as the old-fashioned Hollyhocks did, Merlin has a very dense bushy look as it reaches 48 - 60 inches tall and 24 inches wide. This Hollyhock plant is perfect for the back of the flower border, and it's long-blooming and hardworking. You will love Merlin Hollyhock and so do the bees!
Establishing Hollyhock from flower seeds is very rewarding. To get a jump start on the growing season, you can certainly sow Hollyhock seeds indoors or in the greenhouse 6 - 8 weeks before the last frost date. Use starter trays and quality starter mix and sow the Hollyhock flower seeds on the surface, pressing them into the soil to make good contact. Keep them consistently moist. Sowing the flower seeds directly outdoors is an option as well. Prepare soil bed, sow the seeds on the surface and dust over them very lightly with loose garden soil. Keep the Hollyhock flower seeds moist until germination has occurred. Young Hollyhocks can be transplanted or even moved to other positions in the garden. The first year the seed is sown, they will establish their root system, and the second year the colorful show will begin. During the bloom season, water Hollyhock plants well and fertilize. After bloom season, cut back the stalks hard, down to just 3 - 4 inches above ground. Depending on your location and growing season, the Hollyhock plants may come back for a second bloom in late summer or early fall.
