Alcea rosea

‘Chater’s Double Icicle’

ICE WHITE DOUBLE HOLLYHOCK

Alcea rosea ‘Chater’s Double Icicle’
ICE WHITE DOUBLE HOLLYHOCK

Alcea rosea ‘Chater’s Double Icicle’ has full powder-puffs of white, like big scoops of ice cream, sitting on flat white plates of petals.
The flowers are huge, with fully, frilly double centres.
With striking stacks of snow white blooms borne up tall, upright 1.8m flower stems, so the whole plant is like a flurry of snowballs.

Handsome foliage & impressive cut flowers

A handsome foliage clump is also an asset.
While the towering flower stems can be cut for majestic flower arrangements.
So Alcea rosea ‘Chater’s Double Icicle’ makes a bold but pristine garden statement.

Water-wise & low maintenance

Alcea rosea are tough and easily grown plants for Full Sun to positions with a little Part Shade.
They are hardy in heat, dry, frost and wide range of soils.
And they really appreciate getting plenty of air-flow.

Flourishes in a wide range of conditions

This Ice White Double Hollyhock will accept soils from sandy to clay, though it cannot tolerate waterlogged soils.
And will also thrive in soils with a pH on both the acid and alkaline side of neutral.

While a little pampering with fertilizer, organic matter or compost will be rewarded with bumper flower towers.

Suitable for coastal gardens

Hollyhocks are especially suitable for coastal gardens and exposed sites, as they do like to be well-aired. This will keep them nice and healthily spot free.
They are usually happily self-supporting on strong, stout stems. Though if you are in a site with howling gales you may wish to give your stately white ice-cream spires some shelter or stakes – so they are not bowled over.

Low maintenance

Alcea rosea ‘Chater’s Double Icicle’ is a thoroughly low maintenance plant, only needing to have the spent flower stems cut to the ground after each flowering session. And this also encourages more flower spires to come on.
And dousing with seaweed or fish emulsion products from time to time will also give Hollyhocks a health boost to ward off any summer rust virus that may come their way.
(Fortunately the rust that can sometimes affect Hollyhocks in humid mid-summer conditions, is particular to the Mallow family, and does not spread to other species. If the worst comes to the worst – you can deal with it by chopping the clump back hard and starting fresh growth – by which time the humid conditions have passed).

Gently self sows babies where happy

Happily it will gently self seed for you in suitable conditions, without ever becoming a nuisance.
Sadly for tropical gardeners, Hollyhocks are not suitable for areas with very humid summers.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY
Suitable for beginners & kids

Sow seeds of Alcea rosea ‘Chater’s Double Icicle’ any time indoors in a punnet, or scatter directly in garden from late winter to spring.

Indoors for quick plants: First sow the seeds on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then pat gently into the surface of the mix and only just barely cover with sieved mix, sand or vermiculite.

Now thoroughly moisten the sown punnet by standing it in a shallow water bath.
And allowing the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below.

Then place punnet in a warm, well-lit position (not in any direct sunlight).

Temperatures of 15-20°C approx. are best for rapid and optimum germination.

And continue to keep moist by placing a plastic lid or bag over the sown punnet, and misting the mix surface with a spray water bottle when required.

Seedlings emerge in approx. 14-21 days.

Seed Count:  10 large seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve)

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