Heirloom

Hollyhock Chater's Double Mix

Alcea rosea 'Chater's Double'

White hollyhocks bloom brightly on a stem.

Towering cottage garden favorites that create dramatic vertical accents with their impressive 6-8 foot spikes covered in fully double, ruffled flowers resembling peonies in shades of pink, red, white, yellow, and purple. These old-fashioned beauties are perfect for creating privacy screens, backdrop plantings, or adding height to perennial borders while attracting beneficial insects and hummingbirds. Self-seeding readily to create naturalized colonies over time.

Harvest

120-150d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

5–9

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

5-8 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Hollyhock Chater's Double Mix in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Hollyhock Chater's Double Mix · Zones 5–9

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilRich, well-drained soil with organic matter

pH6.0-8.0

Water1 inch per week, drought tolerant once established

SeasonBiennial, some varieties annual

FlavorFlowers are edible with mild, lettuce-like flavor

ColorMixed: pink, red, white, yellow, purple, salmon

Size3-4 inch diameter fully double flowers

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

The schizocarp contains oval, flattened, and notched seeds that readily germinate.

Type: Schizocarp.

Harvest time: Fall

Edibility: Can be used as a showy edible garnish or a container for dip.

Storage & Preservation

Fresh hollyhock flowers keep best when stored stem-down in water in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For immediate use, place cut stems in cool water and use within 24 hours for peak flavor and appearance.

Dry flowers for tea by removing petals and spreading them on screens in a well-ventilated, dark area. Properly dried petals retain color and can be stored in airtight containers for up to one year. Freeze individual petals in ice cube trays for colorful drink garnishes – they'll maintain their appearance for several months.

Young leaves can be dried like other leafy herbs or used fresh in salads. Seeds should be thoroughly dried and stored in paper envelopes in a cool, dry location where they remain viable for 3-4 years.

History & Origin

Origin: Turkey and western Asia

Advantages

+Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Pollinators, Songbirds
+Edible: Can be used as a showy edible garnish or a container for dip.
+Fast-growing

Considerations

-High maintenance

Companion Plants

Lavender and catmint are genuinely useful neighbors here — both attract pollinators that work the hollyhock blooms, and their aromatic foliage discourages aphids (Aphis fabae and relatives) from settling in. Marigolds pull double duty: they draw in hoverflies that prey on aphids, and their root mass stays shallow enough that it doesn't compete with hollyhocks, which develop a substantial taproot by their second year. Delphinium and foxglove fit naturally into the same bed — similar height, same full-sun preference, and neither crowds hollyhocks at the root level.

Black walnut is a hard no. Its roots and decomposing leaf litter release juglone, a compound that disrupts root respiration in sensitive plants — hollyhocks included. Symptoms look like sudden wilt or slow decline with no obvious cause, and by the time you figure out what happened, the plant is usually done. Cucumbers are a softer concern: they don't chemically interfere, but both crops are fungal-disease magnets, and packing them together creates the still, damp canopy that lets hollyhock rust (Phragmidium alceae) spread unchecked.

Plant Together

Lavender

Repels aphids and other pests that commonly attack hollyhocks

Marigold

Deters nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial insects

Delphinium

Similar growing conditions and creates attractive tall backdrop combinations

Roses

Hollyhocks attract beneficial insects that help control rose pests

Foxglove

Compatible growing requirements and complementary flowering heights

Catmint

Repels flea beetles and aphids that can damage hollyhock foliage

Cosmos

Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators while requiring similar care

Sunflowers

Compatible tall growth habits and both attract beneficial pollinators

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that inhibits hollyhock growth and can cause wilting

Cucumber

Both susceptible to similar fungal diseases, increasing disease pressure

Fennel

Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of most companion plants including hollyhocks

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Susceptible to rust disease, especially in humid conditions

Common Pests

Japanese beetles, aphids, spider mites, hollyhock weevil

Diseases

Rust (most common), anthracnose, leaf spot, powdery mildew

Troubleshooting Hollyhock Chater's Double Mix

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Orange powdery pustules on the undersides of leaves, with corresponding yellow spots on top — often showing up by midsummer

Likely Causes

Hollyhock rust (Phragmidium alceae) — the single most common hollyhock problem, spreads fast in humid conditions
Overhead watering that keeps foliage wet overnight
Poor airflow from crowded spacing under 12 inches

What to Do

1.Strip and bag every affected leaf — don't compost them, the spores overwinter
2.Water at the base only, in the morning
3.Next season, space plants at least 18 inches apart and thin basal foliage to open up airflow

Ragged holes chewed in leaves and flowers, often with metallic green-bronze beetles present in clusters during July and August

Likely Causes

Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) — they're drawn to hollyhocks and will skeletonize foliage fast in peak season

What to Do

1.Hand-pick beetles in the early morning when they're sluggish and drop them into soapy water
2.Avoid Japanese beetle traps near your planting — NC State Extension notes the traps attract more beetles than they catch
3.Apply neem oil as a deterrent before populations peak, not after the damage is already heavy

Tiny holes or notches eaten from leaf edges near the base of the plant, with no obvious pest visible during the day

Likely Causes

Hollyhock weevil (Apion longirostre) — adults feed on foliage and lay eggs in seed capsules; damage looks minor but the seed crop suffers
Slugs — especially on young plants or during wet springs, feeding at night

What to Do

1.Check under leaves and around the soil line at dusk with a flashlight to distinguish weevils from slugs
2.For weevils, remove and destroy seed heads before they mature if populations are high — that interrupts the next generation
3.For slugs, ring the base of plants with diatomaceous earth or set out a shallow dish of beer as a trap

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Hollyhock Chater's Double Mix take to bloom from seed?▼

As a biennial, Chater's Double Mix typically takes 120-150 days to bloom in its second year. First-year plants focus on establishing strong root systems and foliage. However, if started indoors very early (6-8 weeks before last frost), some plants may produce flowers in their first season, though blooms will be smaller and less prolific than second-year displays.

Can you grow Hollyhock Chater's Double Mix in containers?▼

Yes, but choose very large containers at least 20 inches deep and 18 inches wide to accommodate the long taproot. Use a heavy potting mix and ensure excellent drainage. Container plants need consistent watering and will require sturdy staking. However, plants may not reach full height potential and may be less winter-hardy in containers in cold climates.

How do you prevent rust disease on Hollyhock Chater's Double Mix?▼

Prevent rust by ensuring proper spacing (18-24 inches apart), avoiding overhead watering, and providing good air circulation. Remove infected leaves immediately and dispose of them away from the garden. Apply preventive fungicide sprays in humid climates, and consider planting in locations with morning sun and afternoon shade to reduce moisture on foliage.

When should I plant Hollyhock Chater's Double Mix seeds?▼

Direct sow seeds in late spring to early summer (May-July) for blooms the following year. For potential first-year blooms, start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. In mild winter areas (zones 8-10), you can also sow seeds in fall for earlier blooms the next season.

What do Hollyhock Chater's Double Mix flowers taste like?▼

The edible flowers have a mild, slightly sweet flavor often compared to lettuce or young spinach leaves. The petals are tender with no bitter aftertaste, making them excellent for salads, garnishes, and herbal teas. Young leaves are also edible but become tougher and more mucilaginous as they mature, similar to okra or mallow family plants.

Do Hollyhocks Chater's Double Mix come back every year?▼

As true biennials, individual plants complete their lifecycle in two years. However, they self-seed prolifically, creating the appearance of perennial plants as new seedlings replace parent plants. To maintain continuous blooms, allow some flowers to go to seed while deadheading others, or sow new seeds annually for guaranteed blooms.