Alcea, Common Hollyhock, Garden Hollyhock 'The Watchman'

Read about my experience with this plant on my blog. Here:

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I had no idea this was such an old and useful plant. I grow it with several other kinds of hollyhocks in my cutting garden, even though I...Read More don't use hollyhocks as cut flowers. They are very picturesque with the other flowers, though, and I especially enjoy the black hollyhock together with the clear pink one.

This is an heirloom plant named 'Watchman'- also called 'Sereno', 'Night Watchman,' 'Black Watchman,' and 'The Watchman'. It's the first ...Read MoreHollyhock I ever grew. Drought and heat tolerant.
There is a legend about this historic heirloom from a Mexican historical plant grower who called it 'Malvarrosa Sereno' (Translates as Night Watchman hollyhock.).
The legend:
This historic variety was first developed by fabric dyers and weavers in Spain, from common Eurasian hollyhocks that came from China and Europe. The color was darkened over several human lifetimes, by selectively breeding for darker and darker violet-maroon flowers. Because it was developed in a Mediterranean region of Spain, it is heat tolerant and also has some drought tolerance.
The 'black' variety of Hollyhock was highly sought after by homesteaders and pioneers during colonial times because it can be used as a multi-purpose ornamental, edible, medicinal, and dye plant. Also used for paper making, as a compost activator, and more!
Read about all its uses here:
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Alcea rosea

Once the so-called black variety was developed, it was named 'Sereno' - Spanish for night watchman. Since it's very easily propagated by seed, it rapidly spread through Europe, various Spanish colonies, and the rest of the world via trade. The spread was fast since Spain was a major sea power and highly involved in global trade for a long time.

My Mom and I first saw this historic plant while traveling in a very arid region of Mexico. It was growing in the Xeriscape garden of a very old, historic hotel. The historic building was built by Spaniards during colonial times. The gardens were kept as historically accurate as possible so as not to detract from the lovely architecture. We got permission from the groundskeeper to take some 'Sereno' seeds home to grow in our arid SW Texas home garden. They did great!

I've been fond of this variety ever since, but it seems to dislike the very humid climate in my current coastal area. Prone to rust and other leaf fungi when grown in a humid area, so I am not presently growing it. I will definitely grow it next time I live in an arid region!

From your friends at Botanical Interests, inc.: These seductive towers of edible black satin blossoms are a wicked addition to the back o...Read Moref the flower border, along a fence, or as an accent in the cottage garden. From a distance, the dark color of 'The Watchman' is as black as the moonless night sky, but on closer inspection you can see its rich purplish burgundy cast. Bees and butterflies will be lured to the 3"-4" flowers that exude ample pollen. Try growing them as a backdrop for pink, red, yellow, or white flowers or anywhere with full sun where you can use something tall and exquisite.(Hardy to zone 2, but technically a biennial. Hollyhocks bloom in the second year after planting. However, they do reliably reseed themselves, making them seem more like a perennial.)