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Image of the impressive butterfly and hummingbird attractant, Alcea
rosea 'Nigra' plant or
Black Hollyhock or Althea
'Nigra'
plant
coming soon...
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Alcea rosea 'Nigra'
(Black antwerp Hollyhock,
Black Hollyhock, 'Hollyhock)
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Synony: Althea Nigra
Family: Malvaceae (Spurge)
Origin: Malaysia, New Guinea, East Indies
Light: Full sun
Height: 8'
Spread: 1-2'
Blooms: Floriferous, individual 2-3" diameter, almost black, dark
chocolate-maroon, heart-shaped, large, single with bright yellow throat,
along towering spikes, from mid-late Summer
Foliage: Herbaceous,
big, fuzzy-textured, rounded with 3-7 lobes
Soil: Well-drained,
sandy, clayey, poor, medium moisture
Water: Regular
Propagation: Seeds
Insects/Disease: Rust, slugs and snails leaf spots
Uses: Fence, background for perennial border, cut flower
arrangments, cottage garden
Comments: Alcea rosea 'Nigra' or
Black Hollyhock, Hollyhock
or Althea Nigra is an
old-fashioned favorite bearing many unique colored flowers. This
vigorous, low maintenance biennial self-sows
readily so deadhead spent flowers if you do not wish to have volunteer seedlings next season. Bees,
hummingbirds and
butterflies are attracted to the dramatic blackish flowers of
Black Hollyhock
especially Painted Lady and Skippers butterflies. This tall
cottage-style perennial make charming background border plants.
Althea Nigra
are easily
propagated outdoors in the Fall after the last frost or start them
indoors efore last frost.
Grown in masses, 'Nigra'
Hollyhock
make stunning against-the-fence plants. You will have plenty to
cut for making lovely flower arrangements or bouquets. Give them some
water when they too dry in Summer and provide stakes when necessary or
grow them near the wall for support and protection from wind. This
unusual floriferous heirloom variety
is a keeper in my book. Here in zone 8b I trim my
Black Hollyhock
plants back to 6 inches above the ground in the Fall. They
will return yearly from 2-5 years. Interestingly, this plant was once grown
by Thomas Jefferson.
USDA Hardiness Zones : 4-9 |
