Hollyhocks at 15th St Farm
Executive Chef Zachary Crossman
Beauty, Flavor, and a Chef’s Favorite Touch
At 15th Street Farm, we grow more than just food—we grow beauty, connection, and a sense of wonder. One of the plants that perfectly captures all three is the hollyhock (Alcea rosea), a stunning flower with towering stalks and old-world charm that has become a quiet star in both our garden and on our dinner plates.
These tall, elegant plants bloom in shades of deep burgundy, blush pink, creamy white, and even near-black—making them a favorite of Executive Chef Zachary Crossman. During our Soil to Fork: community dinners, hollyhocks often make a bold and beautiful appearance—the entire flower used as a garnish to bring a dish to life. For Chef Zach, hollyhocks are more than decoration—they’re a meaningful way to connect guests to the garden with every plate served.guests to the garden with every plate served.
What Are Hollyhocks?
Hollyhocks are classic cottage garden flowers, known for their dramatic vertical spires and saucer-shaped blooms that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Though traditionally grown as biennials, here in Central Florida’s mild climate, they often act as short-lived perennials or self-seeding annuals, blooming beautifully in spring and summer if planted in the fall or early spring.
We grow them in different colors throughout the farm, not only for their beauty and role in our pollinator garden—but also for their unique place in our farm-to-table experience.
Are They Edible?
Yes—and at 15th Street Farm, we go beyond petals. We use the whole hollyhock flower to garnish plates, adding color, texture, and a garden-fresh flourish that’s unforgettable. While the flavor is mild and earthy, the real magic is in the presentation. When placed atop a dish, a whole hollyhock transforms it into a work of art.
Hollyhocks are part of the same plant family as marshmallow and okra, and they contain natural mucilage traditionally used in herbal remedies. Though not commonly eaten in large quantities, their flowers are safe to enjoy when organically grown—as they are here on the farm.
Growing Hollyhocks at the Farm
We love hollyhocks not only for their looks and uses, but also for their resilience. They thrive in full sun, enjoy well-drained soil, and bloom impressively with a little water and care. Like many of our favorite plants, they give back generously—their seed heads dry at the end of the season and readily reseed, helping create a self-sustaining garden space.
From Garden to Table
Each hollyhock bloom we harvest reminds us why we do what we do—to reconnect people with the land, the seasons, and the beauty of real food. Whether you're admiring them in our garden or seeing a full flower delicately placed on a plated course, hollyhocks remind us that food can nourish the soul as well as the body.
Next time you visit the farm, be sure to wander past the towering stalks in bloom—you might just see tomorrow’s garnish glowing in the sun, or as a bowtie for a Eastern Great Egret that visits us daily.
Eastern Great Egret at 15th St Farm
