Growing Sidalcea Little princess

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woodspirit1 Lake Toxaway, NC(Zone 7a) Apr 09, 2001

I got 3 of these today from Van Bourgendien. They look very healthy.The tag said they are also called Checker-Mallow and I have also seen them called dwarf hollyhock. They were weird. They had a crown with some leaves just starting out and then the long roots ran almost horizontal! There was nothing in their planting guide about them so I just potted them with their leaves above the soil. Also Van Bourgendien said that they liked sun to part shade, but when I got them, the tag said full sun, which I have very little of. What is your experience with them?

Post #3447
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poppysue Westbrook, ME(Zone 5a) Apr 09, 2001

I've grown sidalcea from seeds. It's a pretty plant. The first year I tried them I placed the seedlings right in the garden bed where the soil wasn't too good and they soon got crowded out by the nearby plants. They survived and put out a few sparse flowers the following year but they never really thrived.

Last year I put a new batch of seedlings into my veggie bed, (which I use as a nursery bed). The soil is much better and they received part sun. They grew much better and flowered the last half of the summer. I'd say give then what sun you can but partial sun is OK ~ and try to give them good soil. The horizontal roots don't sound right. My guess would be that the nursery grew these from cuttings or seeds in a shallow flat causing the roots to grow horizontally rather than downward. Once you plant them they should straighten out and grow down. I haven't tried digging any of them so I'm not sure how they'll take it. I know hollyhocks and other mallows can be moved easily if you dig them when they're small and make sure to get the whole root without breaking it. I'd imagine that sidalcea would be the same and care should be taken with their roots.

Post #66844
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imiv (Zone 5b) Apr 10, 2001

I have lots of Sidalcia. I can't remember which exactly. Either 'Party Girl' or 'Elsie Heugh'. I have found them an easy plant to grow in sun or part shade. I have moved dormant roots and growing plants both. No problems I can recall. In fact, last year I had all kinds of seedlings come up from me not deadheading the year before. The blooms are long lived too. I like them.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=773389&a=7289297&p=25494996>See my photo, Bobbi's at PhotoPoint
Why do links not work right here? They work, but they don't show up as a simple link without the URL.

Post #66880
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poppysue Westbrook, ME(Zone 5a) Apr 10, 2001

Here's your pic imiv

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=773389&a=7289297&p=25494996

You just got some extra letters in it. You have to post the url for them to work.

Post #66885
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