10 Purple Hollyhock Varieties With Names and Pictures

The color purple has been connected with royalty, wealth, and power for centuries. This is because long ago, purple dye was rare and very expensive to use. As such, the color purple still holds a sense of royalty when you see it, especially in the garden.

Hollyhocks come in many varieties and colors, and all require similar care. Placing in full sun and providing plenty of water will yield vibrant blooms and dramatic height. An excellent choice in an area of the garden where other plants can’t handle the summer sun.

Of all the colors hollyhock blooms in, purple has to be the most eye-catching. You have numerous choices from single, semi-double and double bloom and a number of height options. Once you choose a bloom pattern and height, you should have a few varieties of purple hollyhock to choose from. Let’s take a look at some popular purple varieties of hollyhock you can grow this season.

‘Queeny Purple’

	botanical name Alcea rosea ‘Queeny Purple’
	plant type Biennial
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

We are going to start off with one variety that is true royalty. A winner of the All-American Selection, this frilly petalled purple hollyhock is a dwarf variety.

This is an excellent choice for containers or low flower beds as it only gets to 3 feet tall. A first year bloomer makes it a great choice for impatient gardeners like myself.

‘Creme De Cassis’

	botanical name Alcea rosea ‘Creme De Cassis’
	plant type Biennial
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6’-8’
	hardiness zones 3-9

This variety is named after a liqueur with the same name. The liqueur is made from blackcurrants and is red in color. The flower is also similar in color with blackcurrant coloring towards the middle of the flower and becoming lighter towards the edges.

Another feature of this variety is that it’s a first year bloomer and the flowers can be single, semi-double and double blooms all on the same stem. Combined with its impressive heights of 6 to 8 feet, this variety is a must have in any space.

‘Charters Double Purple’

	botanical name Alcea rosea ‘Chater’s Double Purple ’
	plant type Biennial
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 5’-6’
	hardiness zones 3-9

This variety has a pom pom style double bloom that grows in a reddish-purple color. The crepe-like blooms attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies all season. A perfect backdrop for lower annual or perennials.

This variety looks excellent with other double charter hollyhocks in pink, white, and yellow. Plant in full sun and well-draining soils and watch this variety bloom from mid-summer to fall.

‘Nigra’

	botanical name Alcea rosea ‘Nigra’
	plant type Biennial
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6’-8’
	hardiness zones 3-9

This is a heirloom variety that has been around for centuries. It was grown by Thomas Jefferson in his famous gardens of Monticello. Noted for its nearly black blooms which are actually dark maroon in color.

One of my favorite varieties and a true classic. When you think of hollyhock most likely this is the variety that comes to mind. A classic cottage garden favorite, they are best known for growing along fences, buildings or flower beds.

‘Spring Celebrities Purple’

	botanical name Alcea rosea ‘Queeny Purple’
	plant type Biennial
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Similar to the Spring Celebrities Lilac, this variety is short and delicate. The bloom is a large, double bloom with a traditional purple frilly petal. Plant with celebrities lilac to bring hues of purple to seas of green foliage.

Hardy in zones 3 and above, a great choice in northern regions where soils freeze. The seeds can handle the freezing soils without being damaged. They will germinate in the spring once soil conditions are ideal. Germination takes 2 to 3 weeks depending on your region’s spring climate.

‘Halo Lavender’

	botanical name Alcea rosea ‘Halo Lavender’
	plant type Biennial
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 5’-6’
	hardiness zones 3-9

An absolutely stunning variety of hollyhock. A rich velvety violet single bloom with a raspberry halo wrapped around a clean white center. It grows to about 6 feet tall and about 2 feet wide making it a good choice along fences, buildings and backdrop to flower gardens.

Plant with other hollyhock from the Halo Series to create a beautiful bicolor bloom garden. The halo series produces a number of bi-colored flowers. They are eye-catching between their petal pattern and height.

‘Blacknight’

	botanical name Alcea rosea ‘Blacknight’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 5’-6’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Tall, dark and handsome is the best way to describe this hollyhock.This variety has deep purple-black single bloom atop stalks that reach 5 to 6 feet tall. The best feature of this hollyhock is that it’s a true perennial, not a biennial. It will continue to grow year after year from the same seed.

The spotlight series consists of four stable, single bloom, straight-colored flowers. The varieties are Blacknight, Mars Magic, Polarstar and Sunshine. What sets these hollyhocks apart from others is that they are all true perennials. When all varieties are planted together, they are sure to be showstoppers in the garden.

‘Chater’s Double Maroon’

	botanical name Alcea rosea ‘Chater’s Double Maroon’
	plant type Biennial
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 5’-7’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Contrasting well with its dark green foliage, the blooms have a satiny double flower that blooms in deep maroon colors. The blooms can get exceptionally large, up to 6 inches in diameter.

This variety would look amazing with other charter double varieties such as charters double white and charters double pink. Or, you can leave it all on its own to stand as a focal point of your garden.

‘Purple Rain’

	botanical name Alcea rosea ‘Purple Rain’
	plant type Biennial
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 5’-7’
	hardiness zones 3-9

This variety has deep royal purple flowers with a pale yellow centers. Plant in full sun to reach heights greater than 7 feet. They prefer 8 hours of sunlight per day but can tolerate less. Consider a different location if they will receive less than 4 hours of sunlight per day.

Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees will love this variety. Plant at the back of a pollinator garden to add some contrasting height.

‘Cerise’

	botanical name Alcea rosea ‘Cerise’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6’-8’
	hardiness zones 3-9

If you can’t decide between planting pink or purple hollyhocks, consider Cerise from the halo series. You can have the best of both colors in one single bloom. This variety has large, single pink pink blooms with a beautiful purple halo towards the center.

A very tall hollyhock at 6 to 8 feet, it is rather bushy and a true perennial. This variety will bloom in its first year in warmer regions. If you live in colder regions and want to see blooms the first year, consider planting early in the spring or indoors.