A hollyhock is a tall garden flower that grows on a single sturdy stalk, often reaching six feet or higher. The large, papery blooms cluster up the stem in shades of pink, red, white, yellow, or deep purple, opening from bottom to top over several weeks in summer.

Hollyhocks have been beloved garden plants for centuries, originally growing wild in China and the Middle East before spreading to cottage gardens across Europe and America. Gardeners often plant them along fences or against walls, where their height creates a dramatic backdrop. The flowers attract bees and butterflies, and their old-fashioned appearance gives gardens a storybook quality.

The plant is a biennial, which means it takes two years to complete its life cycle: the first year it grows leaves close to the ground, and the second year it shoots up tall and flowers. After blooming, hollyhocks scatter seeds that can sprout new plants nearby, returning year after year in the same spot. Despite their delicate appearance, hollyhocks are surprisingly tough, thriving in hot sun and poor soil where fussier flowers would struggle.