Alcea ‘Blacknight’

Description

Favoured heavily by contemporary and gothic garden designers, this striking variety produces wide, saucer-shaped single blossoms in a shade of maroon so incredibly deep it registers to the human eye as a glossy, midnight black. The open structure of the large flowers exposes a prominent, pale central stamen, turning this plant into an incredibly accessible and highly attractive landing pad for local bumblebees and butterflies. It stands out as a sophisticated, moody focal point that entirely redefines the look of a traditional mixed border.

This plant anchors its massive above-ground structure using a single, long, fleshy taproot, you must dig the planting hole exceptionally deep and loosen the subsoil to guarantee the root can push straight down without bending. Once established, this taproot makes the plant highly drought-resistant, but it also means it will violently resent being dug up or transplanted, so you must choose its permanent location wisely. Feed it with a balanced liquid fertiliser just as the first flower buds begin to swell to ensure the dark petals develop their signature glossy, saturated sheen.

Please Note: When purchasing plants, please consider that each live item is unique and may therefore differ from the images shown, which are for illustration purposes only. The plant will be supplied in a growers pot. Depending on season, some plants may be pruned back to encourage growth and deciduous plants may arrive without leaves.