Photo showing some tall flower spikes of hollyhocks, pictured growing as part of a cottage garden / herbaceous border. These dark pink / red hollyhocks are particularly striking against the blue sky, with their Latin name being: Alcea rosea. Hollyhock flowers are usually a biennial plant, growing just leaves during the first year and then flowering / setting seed the second year, before dying. However, some varieties may survive longer, depending on the growing conditions and harshness of the winter weather.
