These tall (5 to 9 feet) plants from the Mediterranean region have rough, roundish heart-shaped leaves and 3- to 6-inch-wide single, semidouble, or double flowers that appear in early to midsummer. They're favored for cottage gardens from Santa Fe to the Pacific Northwest (zones 1–24). Plant them where they'll get full sun and regular water.

Most hollyhocks are strains of A. rosea and are considered biennial or short-lived perennials. A. ficifolia Antwerp mix, with palm-shaped leaves, is a new rust- resistant strain.

SINGLE BLOOMS. A. rosea Old Barnyard mix, Country Garden mix, and Single mix are collections of old-fashioned single flowers in shades of all or some of the following colors: maroon, pink, rose, white, and yellow. A. r. nigra has rich chocolate maroon flowers.

DOUBLE BLOOMS. A. rosea Chater's Double is a perennial strain in single and mixed colors. 'Peaches 'n' Dreams' is creamy pink with tinges of raspberry. Powderpuff is a bright mix of maroon, red, white, and yellow. Summer Carnival mix blooms the first year if started in spring.