From our perspective, the very structure of a hollyhock bloom is an open invitation. Unlike flowers with deep, tubular corollas that restrict access, our flowers are wide-open and saucer-shaped. This design creates a stable and easily accessible landing pad for a variety of visitors. Bees, particularly larger species like bumblebees, appreciate the ample space to alight and maneuver. The central cluster of stamens, heavy with protein-rich pollen, is prominently displayed, making our reproductive offerings impossible to miss. Hummingbirds, while preferring to hover, also benefit from this open architecture. It allows them to efficiently probe each floret with their long bills without obstruction, ensuring a quick and energy-saving meal.
We hollyhocks understand that color is a powerful signal. We have evolved to produce blooms in a range of hues that are particularly attractive to our desired pollinators. While we come in many colors, the shades of red, pink, magenta, and even deep purple are exceptionally effective. To the eyes of a hummingbird, which see further into the red spectrum than humans, these colors act as a brilliant beacon, signaling a high-energy nectar source from a distance. For bees, which are more attuned to the blue and ultraviolet end of the spectrum, the lighter pinks and whites often have distinct UV nectar guides—patterns invisible to humans but starkly clear to bees—that direct them precisely to the nectar and pollen within each flower.
The foundation of our relationship with bees and hummingbirds is a simple exchange: pollination services for a nutritious reward. Deep within each flower, at the base of the floral tube, we produce a sweet, energy-dense nectar. This nectar is the primary fuel for hummingbirds' incredibly high metabolisms. For bees, it provides essential carbohydrates to supplement the protein they gather from our pollen. The quantity and sugar concentration of our nectar are calibrated to be a worthwhile expenditure of energy for these pollinators, encouraging repeat visits. As a bee moves from flower to flower gathering this reward, its fuzzy body brushes against the pollen-laden anthers, inadvertently picking up grains and depositing them on the stigma of the next flower, thus ensuring our cross-pollination.
Our growth strategy is not an accident. By growing tall—often reaching six to eight feet or more—we rise above many other garden plants, making our floral spires highly visible landmarks for flying pollinators. A single hollyhock plant produces a succession of blooms along a significant portion of its stem, creating a dense, vertical buffet. This concentration of resources is highly efficient for pollinators. A bee or hummingbird can visit dozens of flowers on a single plant with minimal flight distance between them, maximizing their energy gain. This tall, spike-like inflorescence is perfectly suited for the foraging behavior of hummingbirds, who are adept at feeding vertically, and for bees that systematically work their way up a flower stalk.
Our life cycle as biennials is a strategic investment in the future. We spend our first year establishing a strong rosette of leaves, building up energy reserves in our roots. This ensures that in our second year, we can produce an exceptionally robust and prolific flower show. For the bees and hummingbirds that frequent a yard, this reliable, massive bloom represents a predictable and abundant food source. Furthermore, we readily self-seed. Once established in a garden, we will often return year after year, creating a permanent, dependable station for pollinators. This long-term presence encourages these creatures to incorporate your yard into their regular foraging routes, knowing that the hollyhock buffet will be available season after season.
