Alcea rosea Spring Celebrities Apricot | Hollyhock Seeds

Alcea rosea Spring Celebrities Apricot is a compact, first-year flowering hollyhock with large double to semi-double flowers in a soft salmon-apricot shade. Unlike traditional tall hollyhocks, Spring Celebrities has a naturally dwarf, well-branched habit, reaching approximately 60–80 cm, making it particularly suitable for flower beds, borders and large containers.

One of the most valuable characteristics of the Spring Celebrities series is its ability to flower in the first year from seed. Under favourable growing conditions, plants can continue flowering for up to three months, providing a long display throughout the summer.

Plant Information

• Botanical Name: Alcea rosea
• Series: Spring Celebrities
• Variety: Apricot
• Common Name: Hollyhock
• Flower Colour: Salmon apricot
• Flower Type: Double to semi-double
• Life Cycle: Perennial, often grown for first-year flowering
• Plant Height: Approx. 60–80 cm
• Plant Habit: Compact, well-branched
• Position: Full sun
• Germination Temperature: 15–20°C
• Days to Germinate: 7–10 days
• Days to Bloom: approximately 100–120 days from sowing
  
• First-Year Flowering: Yes
• Best For: Flower beds, borders, large containers and cottage-style gardens

Soft Salmon-Apricot Flowers

Spring Celebrities Apricot produces large, double to semi-double flowers in a delicate salmon-apricot shade.

The warm colour combines beautifully with cream, soft yellow, peach, blush pink, burgundy and fresh green, making it especially attractive in romantic and cottage-style planting schemes.

Because Spring Celebrities is grown from seed, a small percentage of plants may naturally produce flowers that are less double or single.

A Compact Hollyhock

Traditional hollyhocks are known for their very tall flower spikes, but Spring Celebrities was bred for a much shorter and more compact habit.

Plants reach approximately 60–80 cm and develop excellent basal branching. This creates fuller plants with multiple flowering stems rather than a single very tall central spike.

The compact size makes Spring Celebrities particularly useful for large pots and containers, the middle or back of smaller borders and gardens where traditional tall hollyhocks would be too large.

Flowers in the First Year from Seed

A major advantage of Spring Celebrities is that it can flower during the first year of cultivation.

With an early spring sowing and favourable conditions, plants can produce flowers during their first summer rather than requiring an additional year before flowering.

Under good growing conditions, flowering can continue for up to approximately three months.

When to Sow

For first-year flowering, start the seeds indoors in March–April.

Spring Celebrities can also be sown outdoors or into pots from approximately July to September for flowering the following year.

Spring sowing: March–April indoors for first-year flowers
Summer/autumn sowing: July–September for flowering the following season

How to Sow Hollyhock Seeds

Sow the seeds in a fine, moist and well-drained seed-starting substrate.

Cover the seeds lightly with substrate and keep the growing medium evenly moist during germination.

Maintain a temperature of approximately 15–20°C.

Under suitable conditions, germination takes approximately 7–10 days.

After germination, move the seedlings to a bright position and grow them slightly cooler, around 15°C, to encourage strong, compact growth.

Avoid excessive warmth combined with insufficient light, which can result in weak, elongated seedlings.

Growing the Seedlings

Provide young plants with plenty of light and good air circulation.

Keep the substrate evenly moist but avoid waterlogging.

Once the seedlings are well established, gradually harden them off before planting outdoors.

Plant into their final position after the risk of significant frost has passed.

Planting & Growing

Spring Celebrities Apricot performs best in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil.

Regular feeding during active growth can support vigorous development and abundant flowering, particularly when plants are grown in containers.

Water consistently during dry periods, but avoid keeping the soil permanently wet.

Its strong basal branching helps produce a compact, floriferous plant with multiple flowering stems.

Growing in Containers

Unlike many traditional hollyhocks, Spring Celebrities is particularly well suited to large containers and pots.

Choose a generously sized container with drainage holes and use a fertile, well-drained growing medium.

Container-grown plants require more regular watering and feeding than plants grown directly in the ground.

At approximately 60–80 cm tall, Spring Celebrities creates the characteristic hollyhock appearance without the extreme height of traditional varieties.

Hollyhock Rust

Hollyhocks can be susceptible to hollyhock rust, particularly where plants are crowded or foliage remains wet for extended periods.

Provide good air circulation, avoid unnecessary wetting of the foliage when watering and remove badly affected leaves if necessary.

A sunny, open position and appropriate plant spacing help maintain healthier plants.

After Flowering

Removing faded flowers can help keep the plants tidy and encourage continued flowering.

After the main flowering period, the flower stems can be cut back.

Plants intended to overwinter can be protected with a light winter mulch where conditions are particularly cold or exposed.

Why Grow Spring Celebrities Apricot?

Flowers in the first year • Soft salmon-apricot colour • Large double to semi-double flowers • Compact 60–80 cm plants • Excellent basal branching • Long flowering period • Suitable for large containers • Beautiful in borders and cottage gardens

Spring Celebrities Apricot is an excellent choice for gardeners who love the romantic appearance of traditional hollyhocks but want a shorter, more manageable plant that can flower in its very first season from seed.