For me, no plant says 'country cottage' like the hollyhock. Rising straight towards the sky, the hollyhock is the perfect plant to add a touch of vintage appeal to your garden.This statuesque flower is also great for adding colour to your backyard, usually sprouting petals in shades of red or pink. Why not visit our online store to see the fantastic colour range we have in stock?

Because hollyhocks can grow to nearly three metres tall they need a bit of thought put into their planting position. Choose somewhere sheltered so they don't get knocked over in a gust, and plant something in front of their base so they grow tall and out the top. I recommend nemesia, which grows wild, flowers beautifully and is the perfect height for propping up your towering plant. Another alternative is cosmos, which, like the nemesia, prefers the same conditions as the hollyhock - sunny and sheltered. Hollyhocks also grow well with sunflowers. And, let's face it; a few of those in your garden are bound to impress the kids.

You can grab your hollyhock and other Awapuni Nurseries seedlings from your local supermarket, Bunnings, or The Warehouse. Alternatively, head to our online store again and have them delivered direct to your door.

Once you're ready to get growing, dig a little hole and plant your seedlings about 20cm apart. I find the best way to get the planting distance right is to make sure each plant is about a trowel length away from the next .Be careful not to space them out any further apart than this so that the plants can support each other as they grow.

Once you've finished planting, you've done most of the hard work. All you need to do now is sit back, relax and in about six weeks your hollyhocks will start to flower. Just be careful not to over-water them, or they can get rust. When they've finished flowering (by the first frost in May or June at the latest), pull them out and replace them with something new - check out our website for even more inspiration.