Alcea rosea

‘Halo Blossom’

HALO BLOSSOM HOLLYHOCKS

Alcea rosea ‘Halo Blossom’
HALO BLOSSOM HOLLYHOCKS

Alcea rosea ‘Halo Blossom’ is a valuable (and very pretty) new breakthrough in Hollyhock breeding.
Carefully bred for perennial long life, long blooming and rust resistant healthy growth.

Newly bred perennial Hollyhock for long blooming

Alcea rosea ‘Halo Blossom’ is a perennial Hollyhock.
Hooray – no replanting – once you have it you have it.
So it is a bushy clump in your garden blooming continuously from early summer through till late autumn with a procession of flower packed spires for multiple years.

Bred to be rust resistant

‘Halo Blossom’ (and all members of the wonderful Halo Series of new Hollyhocks) have been developed for rude health and resistance to Hollyhock Rust disease.
So they do not develop those unsightly leaves late in the season or in adverse weather conditions.

White cups with cherry eyes

‘Halo Blossom’ produces large cups of snow white with central halos of deep cherry.
Flowers then blush with softest pink tones as the weather changes and blooms mature, so there are petals of pure white and palest blush pink on each spire as the flowers open from the base up.
Alcea rosea ‘Halo Blossom’ is both romantic and striking.
Especially as it just keeps on keeping on with flower packed spires.

Quick from seed to flower

Alcea rosea ‘Halo Blossom’ is quick and easy to raise from seed.
Beginning to bloom in its first summer if the seed is sown in late winter-early spring.
Then it remains with you as a permanent perennial clump for many years.

Handsome healthy foliage

Handsome fig shaped leaves are also an asset.

Majestic cut flowers

Towering flower stems can be cut for majestic flower arrangements.
Blooms are close packed up spires from 1.2m to 2m. in height.

Water-wise & low maintenance Halo Series Hollyhocks

The Halo Series Hollyhocks are tough and easily grown plants.
Plant in positions with Full Sun or a little Part Shade.
They are also hardy in heat, dry, frost and wide range of soils and thrive with minimal additional watering.
All Hollyhocks appreciate getting plenty of air-flow.

Wide range of soils

Alcea rosea ‘Halo Blossom’ accepts a wide range of soils, from sandy to clay, but cannot abide waterlogged soils.
And 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 boost.

Suitable for coastal gardens

Halo Series Hollyhocks are especially suitable for coastal gardens and exposed sites, as they have strong, stout stems.
They are usually happily self-supporting, though if you are in a site with howling gales you may wish to give your spires some shelter or stakes so they are not bowled over (that would be heartbreaking).

Low maintenance

Alcea rosea ‘Halo Blossom’ is a thoroughly low maintenance plant, only needing to have the spent flower stems cut to the ground to keep your perennial clump looking tip top.
Happily it will also gently self seed for you in suitable conditions, without ever becoming a nuisance.

Loved by pollinators but not be rabbits

The wide open cups of blooms are rich in nectar and pollen and are a great boon to our pollinator friends.
However rabbits do not enjoy the flavour of the felty, fig shaped leaves and tend to pass them by as they head on to the lettuces.

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

Sow seeds of Alcea rosea ‘Halo Blossom’ 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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