All gardeners are familiar with tall single hollyhocks, which can be used so effectively to screen an ugly view or soften the harsh lines of a bare wall. But few realize that the single variety has an even richer, more stately relative—the double hollyhock.
Unlike the single with its rather rank growth and coarse, somewhat unattractive foliage, makes it undesirable except in a large perennial border, the double variety develops into a compact, clean-cut plant with attractive bluish-green leaves. From the crown of the plant rise as many as a dozen 4- to 6-foot flower spikes, bearing all along their length very double, carnation-like flowers in a myriad of delicious colors ranging all the way from snowy white through buff, apricot, pink, rose, bright red and maroon, to an almost black hue.
Many of the blossoms measure as much as 4 inches across and are so fully double as to give an impression of considerable depth. The flowers open in succession from the bottom to the top of the stalk, but the individual blooms last so well that by the time the buds at the tip are bursting, the first flowers are still attractive.
The double hollyhock, in addition to giving accents of color to the perennial border for the first two to three weeks in July when the delphinium, columbine, and iris have gone by and before phlox comes into bloom, can also add a touch of color to the living room as a tall bouquet, or grace to the dining table in a crystal bowl arrangement with floating blossoms. The clever person who likes to experiment with making her corsages can fasten several of the blooms together into a charming decoration for her dress or hair. Many compliments will be hers for her original creations.
Double hollyhocks are as easily grown as
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