Alcea rosea

‘Creme de Cassis’

CREME DE CASSIS HOLLYHOCKS

Alcea rosea ‘Creme de Cassis’
CREME DE CASSIS HOLLYHOCKS

Alcea rosea ‘Creme de Cassis’ bears HUGE flowers of the most unusual colour and form.

Unusual deep blackcurrant-wine colours on HUGE flowers

The massive blooms are rich blackcurrant-wine coloured; fringed with pink and cream shaded edges; and intricately veined with deep wine lace patterns.
These are sensational flowers, with all the colours of the delicious French liqueur made from blackcurrants, and mixed with a dab of cream on the edges.

Double, semi-double and single blooms – all on the one stem !!!

Unusually, the flowers can open double, semi-double, and single – all at once on the same stem – all on the one plant !!!
These striking stacks of blooms come on tall, upright stems, soaring up to at least 1.5m. and even on up to 1.8m.

Handsome foliage & impressive cut flowers

Handsome foliage clumps are also an asset.
While the towering flower stems can be cut for majestic flower arrangements.
So with their great height and glorious colouring, Creme de Cassis Hollyhocks make stunning background plants to any sunny flower garden.

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.

Wide range of soils

These Creme de Cassis Hollyhocks will accept soils from sandy to clay, though they cannot abide waterlogged soils.
They will also thrive in soils with a pH on both the acid and alkaline side of neutral.

Bumper soaring flower towers

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

Suitable for coastal gardens

Hollyhocks are especially suitable for coastal gardens and exposed sites, as they do like to be well-aired.
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 towering ‘Creme de Cassis’ spires some shelter or stakes so they are not bowled over (that would be heartbreaking).

Low maintenance

Alcea rosea ‘Creme de Cassis’ 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.
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 very humid areas.

The best of new & unusual breeding

Hollyhocks have been garden favourites for years, so these tough old beauties have been taken for granted a little.
But new developments in breeding have kicked them up to the top of the pops again – with enhanced vigour and disease resistance, and simply glorious flowers and colours.

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

Sow seeds of Alcea rosea ‘Chater’s Rose’ any time indoors in punnets, 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 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 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve)

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