Alcea 'Radiant Rose'

Alcea 'Radiant Rose': A Towering Romance in Rose-Pink

Alcea ‘Radiant Rose’ lives up to its luminous name with tall spires of rose-pink blooms that unfurl gracefully from midsummer into fall. A refined selection from the Spotlight™ series, this single-flowered hollyhock brings saturated colour, garden reliability, and vertical elegance to sunny borders and cottage-style plantings. Its upright form is well-suited for the back of the bed or along fences and walls, where it provides a bold yet romantic focal point. Pollinator-friendly and lightly self-seeding, 'Radiant Rose' offers both beauty and presence in a classic garden silhouette.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 180–210 cm
• Spread: 60–75 cm, with a narrow, upright habit
• Flower Colour: Rose-pink single blooms with a glowing centre
• Flowering Period: Mid to late summer into early fall
• Foliage: Large, lobed green leaves with a coarse texture
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Moderately fertile, well-drained soil

Uses and Benefits: 'Radiant Rose' brings soft drama and vertical energy to the garden with its tall stems and warm, romantic blooms. It’s ideal for sunny borders, fence lines, or as a vertical anchor in perennial plantings. While often grown as a biennial, it will frequently self-seed in favourable conditions, creating an ongoing presence. Loved by bees and butterflies, this hollyhock is both a nostalgic favourite and a hardworking summer performer.

Companion Plants: Pair 'Radiant Rose' with Agastache 'Peachie Keen' for a warm, summery contrast in peach and pink that glows in the sun. Add Achillea 'Saucy Seduction' for a lush layer of raspberry-pink blooms and delicate foliage at the base. Finish with Schizachyrium scoparium 'Standing Ovation'—its upright blue-green blades shift to red in fall, reflecting the hollyhock’s colour and adding structure and movement.

Care Instructions: Stake in exposed areas to prevent leaning. Deadhead to extend blooming or allow seed heads to form if self-seeding is desired. Cut back to the base in late fall. Provide good air circulation to reduce the risk of rust and other foliar diseases.

History: Alcea rosea has long graced gardens from Asia to Europe and North America. 'Radiant Rose', part of the Spotlight™ series, was developed for improved stem strength, garden reliability, and vibrant single blooms. This modern cultivar builds on centuries of cottage garden tradition while offering better performance for today’s borders.

Final Thoughts: Alcea 'Radiant Rose' is a radiant vertical accent that brings joyful colour and classic form to the summer garden. Its luminous blooms and strong habit make it a standout in full sun, where it draws in pollinators and adds height and romance to every planting. A perfect blend of tradition and modern ease.