Botanical Interests Hollyhock The Watchman

Perennial. Hardy to USDA zone 2. From a distance, the dark color of The Watchman is as black as the moonless night sky, but on closer inspection you can see its rich purplish burgundy cast. In 1629, John Parkinson described black hollyhocks as being ?of a darke red like black blood?. Thomas Jefferson grew them at his Monticello estate and loved them nearly as much as he did his roses. Seductive towers of flowers for bees and butterflies, they make an excellent backdrop for pink, red, yellow, or white flowers, and fences. See instructions inside for making old-fashioned hollyhock dolls from the buds and blooms. When to plant outside: 1 or 2 weeks before average last frost date. May also sow in late summer for bloom the following year. When to start inside: Spring, 6-8 weeks before average last frost date. May blooms first year if started early indoors.Special Germination Instructions: Seeds require light to germinate. Do not cover with soil. When direct sowing outside, be certain they are where you want them. Established plants have very long taproots that may not survive a move.