I looked at several varieties here on DG I think I saw one person who said they grow them in Texas. If you do grow them, what are the pitfalls you know about growing them here?
Any one in Texas grow Hollyhocks?
winds
yes
I threw seeds out years ago and the Hollyhocks keep coming back year after year in my garden.
I just let them re-seed.
They want full sun and not too much care.
Good luck !
Those sure are pretty, very nice, but then all your flowers are gorgeous!!
I have thrown out seed and bought plants, none bloom, grow or otherwise do anything. I have cuddled and abused, nothing works.
they are very happy here in TX.
However, remember they are biennials,
and the first year will come up and leaf
out, but not bloom.
To work around that, you plant in fall
or winter, and possibly they will bloom
the first year.
Because of their height, the winds can
affect them, but you alleviate that by
planting in a protected area, or up
against a wall, building or other
structure that will protect them from
those winds.
think if you try it this year in your new bed, in a sheltered place but not too crowded you might have them show up
oh yes, I forgot they are biennial.
You need to throw the seeds out when the temperature is between 60-70 degrees (night and day). You need to water them for 2-3 days or I like to wait for same rain before throwing seeds.
Soon I will throw seeds of Zinnia Elagantis all over my yard - germination temperature 65-75F
Thanks everyone. Im going to try. Yours are beautiful drthor. I hope mine do well. I love them so much.
I think they will do well for you, steadycam. I have French hollyhocks (the purple ones) that reseed in my yard every year. They take no care at all except when they try to go exploring along the path, then I just pull them up and move them. The other pic is of my first hollyhock - I had forgotten what I planted there and it was a mystery for over a year until it shot up and bloomed like crazy. I loved it! If I had more room, I'd have a forest of them. I saved the seeds and planted some near our shed last spring. I look forward to their blooms this year. Right now I have the hollyhocks and the French ones about a foot tall in the yard, lovely green and defiantly withstanding the freezes without any assistance.
Carol, This is the first time I have ever seen a French hollyhock. Very pretty thanks for posting the picture. Many years ago I had the single bloom hollys. Now after seeing these pictures I think I will start planting once more.
Very nice Carol.
I have a few Hollyhocks that come up. I let them alone when they get ragged and eaten looking because they are a host plant for the Painted Lady, American Lady, and Checked Skipper butterflies!
Mine have ceased to come back. Both the French and the others. My biggest problem has always been mildew. No matter what I try......mildew.
I don't think they will mildew out here if I can get them going again, it's so dry my dogs don't get fleas anymore. I used to grow hollyhocks. I started them in a flowerbed I could water from seed in June July or august when I had time, so they got going well before first frost, and they bloomed may or June the next year. I bought some seed this past spring and refrigerated but did not have time to plant.
HI everyone, I just bought some double ones and I was checking to see if they would do well here in east TX. Never grown before but they are beautiful. Alda And-- do the double ones make seeds? What I bought were roots.
I have sown seeds for them many times. I usually sow them in the fall/winter and hope that they will flower that spring/summer. If they are sown in the spring they will not flower until the next year. My biggest issue is remembering not to yank that big green clump before I remember it supposed to be there.
I haven't tried the French Hollyhocks, but I have seeds. When are they supposed to be sown?
Alday, what is your growing zone?
Hi, My growing zone is 7B or 8, Center,TX on the La border. Alda
Is French Hollyhocks malva sylvestris? I grew that in Illinois. It reseeded itself freely there. Not really a nuisance as it was pretty and the bumble bees loved it. I don't know why, but I called it marsh mallow....
dYes, it is Malva sylvestris. I got some from covnent garden last year but they have not come back.
The Malva won't come up until the ground is warm.
Well, y'all convinced me to try again. While I was at The Arbor Gate on Sunday afternoon, I saw some hollyhock plants and picked up two. I will put them in my new bed and we shall see. I am hoping they will at least live.
When is the best time to sow the Malva seeds?
I would say, start them indoors now, lisa. But that's just my guess and plant them out when the ground is warm in your area.
Iwould say plant NOW. they will come up when it is "time"
but you wont be artificially delaying them.
they handle cold well. remember they are biennial,,, so
genetically cold tolerant.
Annuals are the ones who cant handle cold well.
If you fall or winter sow you will get blooms sooner.
As for the doubles, I "think" they are hybrids- so make
seed but probably wont come exactly like the parents.
But you will probably be pleasantly surprised.
Anyone have the fig-leaved hollyholcks ?
I've read/heard to sow them in the fall to get them to flower the next spring I'll try some now and some in fall. Thanks!
Yes TerriI, its St true, HOWEVER, in TX , if you
plant now you might see some action in the fall
instead of needing to wait till next summer..
Yes, I would say to sow the malva seeds outdoors now. They are not the least bit picky about when to grow. BTW, I was at Lowes on 121 today and they have some potted double hollyhocks. That's the first time I've ever seen them there.
Ok will do. Thanks for the info.
Carol, those potted ones would be
SURE to bloom this year !