Alcea 'Polarstar'

Alcea 'Polarstar': Moonlight Spires Hollyhock

Regal and radiant, Alcea 'Polarstar' brings height and elegance to the midsummer garden with its tall spires of snow-white blooms, each centered by a golden eye. Rising up to 180 cm, these round, papery flowers bloom in succession from July through September, creating a luminous vertical accent in borders, cottage gardens, and pollinator patches. A classic hollyhock with a refined twist, it draws bees and butterflies while offering bold presence against walls, fences, or mixed perennial backdrops.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: Up to 180 cm
• Spread: 45–60 cm (typical mature clump)
• Flower Colour: White with yellow centres
• Flowering Period: July to September
• Foliage: Broad, lobed, mid-green leaves
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil

Uses and Benefits: 'Polarstar' is ideal for the back of borders, along garden fences, or as a vertical anchor in cottage-style plantings. Its mid-to-late summer blooms offer essential nectar to bees and other pollinators when many spring bloomers have faded. Tall, showy, and romantic in effect, it works beautifully in traditional or naturalistic designs and pairs well with grasses and other upright perennials. Best grown in full sun with shelter from strong winds.

Companion Plants: Combine Alcea 'Polarstar' with Perovskia 'Denim 'n Lace', Achillea 'Sunny Seduction', and Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' for a bold, sunny-border combination that balances vertical form, pollinator appeal, and long-season interest.

Care Instructions: Plant in full sun with well-drained soil. Water regularly during establishment, then reduce as it becomes drought tolerant. Deadhead spent blooms to extend flowering and encourage tidiness. May require staking in exposed sites. Cut back stems in late fall or early spring. Hollyhocks may behave as short-lived perennials or biennials, so allow some self-seeding to ensure ongoing presence.

History: A refined cultivar of the traditional cottage hollyhock, 'Polarstar' was bred for its pure white flowers and strong vertical form. Like all Alcea, it’s deeply rooted in heritage gardens, yet well-suited to modern pollinator-focused plantings.

Final Thoughts: Towering and ethereal, Alcea 'Polarstar' adds vertical drama and glowing midsummer blooms to sunny gardens—a luminous beacon for pollinators and design lovers alike.