Alcea rosea - Nigra

Nothing quite prepares you for the gothic splendor of Alcea rosea ‘Nigra’. Towering spires carry satiny, single flowers so deeply chocolate-maroon that they read as black from a few steps away. Sunlight catches their wine-colored undertones, while the open centers invite bees to climb right in. Beside pale roses, apricot foxgloves, or silver foliage, the contrast is positively theatrical.

This statuesque hollyhock reaches roughly 6–8 feet tall, creating instant old-world architecture along fences, walls, and the backs of cottage borders. Although technically a biennial or short-lived perennial, it often self-sows where content, leaving future generations of mysterious dark flowers. The tall stems also make a dramatic seasonal screen without occupying much ground-level space.

Give ‘Nigra’ full sun, fertile well-drained soil, regular moisture during active growth, and good air circulation. Stake in exposed or windy sites before the stems become top-heavy. Removing spent flowers can extend the display; leaving several pods allows it to seed around. Keep irrigation off the foliage when practical and remove tired leaves to reduce rust pressure. Moody, romantic, and wonderfully vertical, it belongs wherever a garden could use a little antique drama. Meet more towering characters in our Hollyhock collection.