Hollyhock Summer Carnival
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Description
Hollyhock 'Summer Carnival' Seeds
If you love the towering majesty of cottage garden hollyhocks but don't want to wait a whole year for them to bloom, 'Summer Carnival' is the answer. This award-winning variety has been bred to flower in its very first summer from an early sowing.
These aren't just fast; they are spectacular. The plants produce tall, sturdy spikes (up to 1.5m) covered in fully double, ruffled flowers that look like giant peonies. The mix includes a carnival of colours: powder puff pink, bright scarlet, sunny yellow, and pure white. It is the quickest way to add height and drama to the back of a border.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Hollyhock 'Summer Carnival' is technically a Hardy Annual (or short-lived perennial).
Unlike traditional biennial hollyhocks (which grow leaves in Year 1 and flowers in Year 2), this variety will bloom in Year 1 if sown early enough (Jan/Feb). It will often survive winter to bloom again the following year, but it is best treated as an annual for the most vigorous display.
Top Tip: Because the flowers are so double and heavy, they make excellent cut flowers. Sear the stem ends in boiling water for 10 seconds to make them last longer in a vase.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
To get flowers in the first year, you must start early.
Germination:
Sow indoors from January to March. Sow seeds 1cm deep in individual pots or modules (they have a taproot and hate root disturbance). Keep warm (15-20°C). Germination takes 14-21 days.
Where to Sow:
They demand full sun and rich, fertile soil. They are hungry plants, so dig in plenty of manure or compost before planting out. They look best at the back of a border or against a sunny wall.
Care While Growing:
Rust: Hollyhocks are prone to rust (orange spots on leaves). To prevent this, water at the base (never on the leaves) and give them plenty of space for air to circulate. Remove lower leaves if they look spotty.
Staking: In windy gardens, these tall spikes will need a bamboo cane for support.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Alcea rosea |
| Common Name | Hollyhock 'Summer Carnival' |
| Hardiness | H5 (Hardy Annual/Perennial) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 1.5m (Tall) |
| Spread | ↔️ 50cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 50cm apart |
| Great for | 🏰 Back of Border ⚡ Fast Results ✂️ Cut Flowers 🏡 Cottage Gardens |
| Seed Count | Approx. 50 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
The tall spikes of Hollyhocks often have "bare legs" (leaves that get tatty near the ground). Hide them with these bushy partners:
- 🌸 Cosmos 'Sensation Mixed': The Foliage Cover. The tall, ferny foliage of Cosmos grows to about 1m, perfectly hiding the lower stems of the Hollyhocks while adding a cloud of daisy flowers around them.
- 🎨 Zinnia 'Lilliput Mix': The Colour Echo. The vibrant, pom-pom flowers of the Zinnia echo the double shape and bright colours of the 'Summer Carnival' mix, creating a coordinated, tiered border.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow indoors Jan-March for flowers THIS year. Sow outdoors June-July for flowers NEXT year.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Indoors (Year 1) | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Flowers (Year 1) | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
This variety is a superior garden performer. 'Summer Carnival' holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM), confirming its reliability and outstanding display in British gardens.
Delivery & Returns
Delivery:
Delivery to mainland UK is calculated at checkout. For all other areas and large orders please ask for a quote. Orders will be sent by express next day delivery (DPD). They will be dispatched on a next working day service, with the exception of Ireland where it may take two days. Please allow up to 48 hours for delivery in the UK as the couriers may have already been and collected on the day you send your order in. Smaller orders for pouches, pockets, bags and pots may be sent via Royal Mail delivery. Please ensure you supply an email address and a mobile so you can be updated about your delivery. Should you have any problems with your delivery, please contact us at sales@naturalgrower.co.uk.Special Deliveries
Saturday or weekday morning deliveries can be arranged, but there will be a surcharge. Please contact us to request a price for either of these delivery services. If you need a parcel sending outside of the UK, please contact us for a quote.Returns:
If you are not completely happy with any product that you have ordered from us, you may return it to us in its original condition any time within 14 calendar days from the date of dispatch. Products must be returned in their original condition. Please contact us at sales@naturalgrower.co.uk to arrange a return. If you return a product by post, you will need to pay the costs of returning the product to us and obtain proof of posting.
Be a smarter gardener
Gardening organically is a more affordable and long term alternative to using chemical fertilisers. Natural Grower products eliminate waste because the nutrients are slowly released to the plants as they need them. Over the long-term you save money because your soil health naturally improves, which in turn produces healthier, stronger, disease resistant plants. Chemical products may cost less financially in the short term, but they don’t provide any long-term benefits and the damage they do to the natural eco-system in the soil is costly.
Slow release for sustained growth
Organic fertilisers are broken down slowly by organisms in the soil to produce a more measured, consistent, natural release of nutrients. This results in uniform growth with strong stems and leaves, unlike chemical fertilisers which provide a sudden boost resulting in tall lanky plants. Stronger plants are more resistant to disease, and with the presence of mycorrizhal fungi to strengthen the roots, the plants, soil and fungi all work together long-term to create the perfect natural eco-system.
Love your land
The organic matter in Natural Grower will help keep your soil or compost in optimum condition, retain moisture over the dry summer months and improve the health and structure of your soil. The presence of natural Mycorrhizal fungi in our products enhances root growth, enabling plants to extract nutrients and absorb water more efficiently from the soil or compost. By using our products you will be supporting and enhancing the natural eco-system in the soil.
Embrace sustainability
Natural Grower’s chemical free fertiliser products are approved organic, biodynamic and vegan. Plant-based and free from chemicals they are safe to use around wildlife, pets and children. Eco-friendly and sustainably produced in the UK. Our packaging is made from recycled plastic where possible and is all 100% recyclable. We are always happy to refill used containers, and often sell our products in reused containers or slightly damaged packaging at a reduced price. Reduce, reuse, recycle.
