Alcea

Alcea rosea, the hollyhock, is a beloved cottage garden biennial or short-lived perennial that thrives in the sunny, sheltered garden walls and fence lines of Martha's Vineyard's historic residential neighborhoods, particularly in the protected gardens of Edgartown and Vineyard Haven where antique cottage-style planting traditions have long been celebrated. Its towering flower spikes in mid-summer, laden with single or double flowers in every color from white to near-black, create an unmistakably traditional garden character that resonates deeply with the island's historic aesthetic. Sandy, well-drained soils are actually well-suited to hollyhocks, provided they are sheltered from the most persistent coastal winds that can topple or damage tall stems.

Deer browsing can be problematic on young plants. Estate Care professionals manage hollyhocks as self-seeding additions to character-rich historic garden borders, allowing them to naturalize spontaneously within defined garden areas.