Hollyhocks need full sun and moist, rich, well drained soil. The mistake many novice hollyhock growers make is to plant this flower in soil that's too dry. If you are planting seeds, sow them outside about a week before last frost. If you are planting seedlings out, wait about two to three weeks after last frost.

When can I put hollyhocks outside?

when to plant hollyhocks

The best time to sow hollyhock seeds undercover is April and May. You can sow the seeds directly outdoors in May and June. If you have bought hollyhocks as plants in pots or raised them from seed, they can be planted out May to July. They flower the following year after planting.

When should I plant hollyhocks?

Planting hollyhock may be done in spring or fall. Select a sunny location sheltered from the wind. Try to have the soil worked up at least one week before planting time. Spring plantings will be safer in areas where winters are severe.

How cold can hollyhocks tolerate?

Hollyhocks grow in a temperature range of 60-90º F as long as conditions are ideal. If the temperature drops below 55º F, it will die back to the ground, and you will need to mulch the soil in order to insulate the dormant roots to protect them from getting too cold.

Do hollyhocks come back year after year?

They appear to be perennials as they do come back year after year but they are actually biennials which self-seed prolifically. Being a biennial means that it is often best to start new Hollyhocks in August or September so that they will then bloom the following summer.

HOW to PLANT and GROW HOLLYHOCKS plus TIPS for growing hollyhocks in HOT CLIMATES

33 related questions found

Where should I plant hollyhocks?

Plant in a well-draining area with full sun to partial shade. Due to their height, protect from damaging winds and provide support such as a fence, wall, trellis or stake. Hollyhocks will readily self-seed if left to their own devices, so locate them in an area where this won't be a nuisance.

What month do you plant hollyhock seeds?

Answer: Hollyhock seeds can be sown outdoors in either pots or in seedbeds in late summer. In the fall, before the ground freezes, or in the spring after the ground has thawed, move the plants to a permanent location in the garden.

How do you get hollyhocks to bloom in the first year?

To force biennial hollyhocks to flower the first year, treat them with gibberellic acid, a flower inducer that takes the place of a cold period. Planting them in fall may also induce hollyhocks to bloom the first year.

Will hollyhocks survive a frost?

The flowers will usually withstand a light frost. ... Hollyhock blooms are likely to survive a frost. Larkspur blooms are likely to survive a frost. Phlox blooms may survive a light frost.

Will hollyhocks grow in the shade?

Hollyhocks are not fussy and survive in many spots but do best in soil that has been amended with compost. They do not like dry soil. With adequate moisture and good drainage, hollyhocks can thrive in full sun or partial shade.

Will bare root hollyhocks bloom the first year?

Hollyhock plants are biennials or short lived perennials. Some do not bloom until the second year after starting bare root plants, but you should see foliage growth the first year.

Do hollyhocks bloom all summer?

Hollyhock, Alcea rosea, is a summer blooming biennial that has an upright habit with thick sturdy stems. They are winter hardy to zone 3. Zones 3 to 8 begin blooming mid to late summer. In zones 9 to 10, young plants are set out in fall and bloom early spring through summer.

How long does it take for hollyhocks to grow?

Sow hollyhock seeds in a cold frame or protected seedbed in the early summer. In rows 6 inches apart, just press seeds into the soil. Keep moist and protect from the sun. Seedlings emerge in 12-21 days.

How do I protect my hollyhocks in the winter?

Prune the leaves and stems back to 6 inches (15 cm.) from the ground in fall. The hollyhocks then need a layer of organic material over the root zone to protect them from freezing. Use straw, compost, leaf litter or mulch.

Do hollyhocks spread?

Growing Hollyhock Flowers

For best performance, irrigate from below and provide good air circulation. Once you get Hollyhocks established you will have them forever. You will have to be sure and dead head them to prevent getting too many, they spread easily but that is all part of gardening.

Are hollyhocks invasive?

Hollyhock mallow is recommended for U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 10. Although it is not considered invasive, other Malva species can become weedy and potentially invasive in some areas, so be certain you are purchasing plants or seeds for the desired species.

Are hollyhocks poisonous to dogs?

Hollyhocks. These flowers are also non-poisonous to dogs or cats, but you need to be careful about the stems and leaves as they may have resin or fiber which may cause some skin allergies.

Do hollyhocks flower every year?

Hollyhocks are easy to grow from seed in spring. ... Alternatively, sow seed in summer, and plant out in autumn. These plants should flower the following year.

Why are my hollyhocks falling over?

When your hollyhock is too tall, it can flop over or look out of scale with the rest of the garden. Cutting the flower stems down by half when they are 18 inches tall and again before they bloom -- when tall varieties are 3 feet tall -- produces stockier flower stems.

How tall do hollyhocks get the first year?

Garden Lovers Club recommends planting them together for the best visual effect. Keep in mind that hollyhock seeds turn into tall plants that are between 3 and 8 feet tall.

What kind of soil do hollyhocks like?

Even though hollyhocks are drought-tolerant, they prefer well-drained, moist soil, especially while they establish and when they bloom. Work a 2-inch layer of compost into the native soil, prior to sowing the hollyhock seeds or transplanting the seedlings. The compost helps the soil to retain moisture longer.

Will hollyhocks come back if they don't bloom?

Holly hocks are very easy to grow, even from seed. Most varieities, especially the old-fashioned ones, take two years to bloom, which does make them biennial, but often they live two or more years after that, which actually makes them a short-lived perennial that takes two years to bloom.

Can I plant hollyhocks in May?

Hollyhocks thrive in a sunny location. ... You can plant hollyhocks from seed now, in the late summer, and you may get blooms next summer. Or wait until late winter or early spring and start transplants indoors. Or, you can plant them outside from seed later next spring.

Are hollyhocks annuals or perennials?

First of all, hollyhocks are a short lived perennial. This means that most varieties will only live two to three years. Their lifespan can be extended some by removing growing hollyhock flowers as soon as they fade.