I am wanting to plant Larkspur, Foxglove and Hollyhocks together along the wooded line of my property. Will these work OK together? Anybody have any seeds they want to share?
Thanks,
Tina
Help wanted:
You do know that none of these will bloom this year right? I mean I think Larkspur has to be planted in the fall, and the hollyhocks wont bloom until their 2nd year. I think the foxglove are about the same as the hollyhocks. I am no expert by no means, but I'm only telling you this from my experience.
The Larkspur reseeds EVERYWHERE!! So it would look wonderful once it gets started.
How much sun does this place get? I haven't tried my larkspur in the sun/shade but I know they do wonderful in the full sun.
Hope this helps.
No, I didn't know they wouldn't bloom this year. I just read an article in a gardening mag. and it said to plant early spring on Larkspur. Oh well...what about plants of these? Could I do that? This area would get all the morning sun. And some afternoon till about 1pm. I'm not really sure what to do with this area or any other for that matter. Take a look at my Newbie post of the Welcome mat forum and you'll understand. thanks for your help Mollybee.
Tina
Just read your Welcome post(are you watching that thread?)
Sounds like that the part you are wanting to plant in gets plenty of sun, so that helps. As far as Larkspur plants? Well to be honest I have never tried transplanting them. This is my 2nd year having these and all I remember is I planted them in the fall of 2001 and before winter came I had small seedlings. They stayed green all winter and then started growing more in the spring. Then they bloomed shortly after that. So I planted in 2001 and they bloomed in 2002. Now I have tons of seedlings and they even popped up in the grass outside the flower bed! I'm wondering if you could stick the seeds in the freezer for a few weeks and then take them out and plant them? Maybe someone will else will come along and help us out on this one.
You might be able to find hollyhock plants from someone here, just need to ask. Then if they are 1 year old plants, you might get them to bloom this year.
Hope some of this helps.
Mollybee, I think Larkspur would do ok, I planted in the greenhouse last spring and then transplanted them later and they bloomed and were just fine. I think you are absolutely right about chilling the seed though. I have gotten mine started in the GH again this spring after chilling the seed. I only planted a week ago and nothing up yet but I am pretty confident that they will come fine.
MOLLYBEE is right about Larkspur being ideally planted in the fall. However, if the area is prepared, you should be able to get right out there now and get some sown. It will take a couple weeks to come up. Blooms will be delayed until next year though (advantage of fall-planting).
Both the Larkspur and the Foxglove will tolerate some shade. The Foxglove is more likely to be a biennial, so this year will form rosettes of leaves near the ground, which next year will grow tall and bloom. They are also both good reseeders, as MollyBee pointed out.
The Hollyhocks can be started indoors, but I suggest peat pots, as they resent transplanting. Again, you may get some blooms this year, but next year will be the big show. Another biennial, and reseeder. I recommend giving them your sunniest location if possible.
I like your idea for drifts of tall, spiky plants along the border, but wonder if some or all of these will require staking; could be a formidable task!
Good luck, and welcome to the forums. You might wish to add your zone and state to your name, so people can provide help mmore specific to your growing conditions.
John
Larkspur definetly needs chilling. I started mine in peat pots outside last fall cause I didn't know where I wanted them. I left the dome lid on to conserve moisture and on a 50 degree day I think the heat killed them. I had one survive. I just got foxglove and hollyhock starter plants (6 packs) from Burpee yesterday. I hope the hollyhocks don't get transplant shock cause they had almost all of the dirt knocked off the roots when I opened them. Not dried out though, so I think they'll make it. I just wonder if they'll bloom now. *shrug*
Thanks for all your help guys. As I said I really need all I can get. And if anyone has any ideas on what to plant around the foundation of my new home to cover up the block I would appreciate it.
Tina
I have lots of larkspur seed. I think if you sow it now, it does like the cool temps of spring to germinate and you could get blooms this summer.
As far as the hollyhocks, they do have some that blooms the first year from seed, one variety is Summer Carnival.
Foxy Foxglove will bloom first year from seed.
You could send me a sase for the larkspur, I can send you quite a bit.
Mollybee is correct about larksuprs needing to be planted in the fall, and about hollyhocks and foxglaves not blooming the first year.
what i would suggest, is some tall marigolds (my faves are Crackerjack, they are about 3 ft tall, open pollinated so you can collect the seed this fall, and available (seeds) everywhere since they are an old, almost heirloom variety.
Also try tall (3 ft zinnias), they can also be old open-pollinated varieties.
I am in a new house and trying to start quickly and have bloom this last spring, so I am planting both of the baouve, plus foxgloves and hollyhocks for NEXT year.
Also try gomphrena. I cant think f too many right now, but will tell when I remember the other stuff.
(oldtimersdisease ya know!
Love, lavanda
Hey there,
My hollyhocks took off last year. I've collected oodles of seed, red, fushia and pink. I love them. You may have seen my posts begging for other colors including black. I also have many volunteers. These may or may not bloom this year. I'll be moving some to a bed along the front of my property. But, I'm sure I can send along a few plants and seeds too. Let me know what you'd like and how much.
cathy
I can share hollyhock seed if you want them, and also a note, mine were beautiful flowering the first year I planted them, every one of them, maybe some are different, but mine reached 5 feet tall and were loaded with flowers.
e-mail if you want to sase for them
laurrie
OhioBreezy