The Watchman hollyhock

Biennial, flowered in the first year in our southern OR climate, and abundantly so in the second year. Flowering stalks reach 5-7 feet, with stunning 3-4” blooms that unfurl slowly over a long flowering period and are so deeply mauve colored they appear black.  Great backdrop for other flowers, as the black color makes other colors pop. Flowers and all other parts of the plants are edible.