Alcea rosea Chater's Double Pink seeds - Hollyhock

Alcea rosea 'Chater's Double Rose-Pink' is a tall and superb hollyhock with very double flowers displaying a fresh and vivid pink colour. Its floral stems are spectacular, but they can be broken by the wind. For this reason, it is often planted against a wall or at the back of a border, leaning against bushes for example. Grown as a biennial in a temperate climate, it self-seeds spontaneously. Essential in cottage gardens, its long romantic flowering period also attracts numerous pollinating insects.

Alcea rosea belongs to the Malvaceae family and originates from Asia Minor. This species has become an emblematic plant in European gardens. The 'Chater's Double Rose-Pink' variety is part of the famous 'Chater's' series, developed in the UK by Thomas Chater in the 19th century. The 'Chater's' cultivars are known for their large very double, pompon-shaped flowers which differ from classic hollyhocks by the density of their petals. These hollyhocks are characterised by sturdy floral stems that can reach 2 to 2.5 meters in height. They bear flowers with tight and crumpled petals, giving them a particularly voluminous and charming appearance. The flowers of 'Chater's Double Rose-Pink', around 10 cm in diameter, display a pure pink tone that catches the light. This flowering appears on plants at least two years old. It starts in June and continues until August, with the flowers gradually blooming from the bottom to the top of the stem. After flowering, the plant produces dry fruits filled with seeds that self-sow naturally, often in unexpected areas of the garden such as crevices in walls or rocky soils. The light green foliage is composed of lobed and rounded leaves gathered in a tuft at the base of the plant. It is semi-evergreen.

The 'Chater's Double Rose-Pink' hollyhock is a great classic in rustic and romantic gardens or "English-style" gardens. Its candy pink hue blends perfectly with tall pastel-flowering plants such as pink foxgloves or white foxgloves. You can also associate it with mulleins like 'Pink Domino' or blue delphiniums. The perennial Geranium 'Rozanne', with its mauve blue flowers and low habit, can create a flowery carpet at the base of the hollyhock floral stems.