Perennial Hollyhocks

Perennial Hollyhocks Care

Alcea rosea

What is the plant

Alcea rosea, the common hollyhock, is an ornamental plant in the family Malvaceae. It was imported into Europe from southwestern China during, or possibly before, the 15th century. Hollyhocks are a short lived perennial.

A classic cottage garden staple, hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) bloom mid-summer with numerous flowers on tall spikes. Many of the most common varieties are biennials, meaning they complete their lifecycle over 2 years. The first year is spent growing foliage and storing energy. In the second year, the stalks shoot up, flowers bloom and seeds form. However, there are also many varieties that behave like short-lived perennials and will flower in their first year when planted early enough in spring or started indoors in winter. Other than staking and cutting the stalks back after flowering, hollyhocks really don’t require much maintenance, but they do need to be protected from insects and fungal diseases such as rust. It can be invasive in the US.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

-10°C - 12°C

Hardiness zone

min 2a

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Provide regular water and keep the soil moist for starting hollyhocks. however, once well established, they are fairly drought tolerant. water from below and avoid wetting the foliage, as this can lead to diseased leaves.
Pruning
Make judicious cuts to encourage new growth. Cut just before a leaf node. Or when cutting back larger stems, cut as close to the main stem as possible.
Fertilizer
Universal fertilizer is granular and mineral product intended for fertilization of all types of garden cultivations. Its balanced content is suitable both for fruit trees, fruit bushes, vegetables and ornamental plants. The even composition of individual elements makes the fertilizer universal.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
It needs bright, filtered light or partial shade.
Soil
They need well-drained, moisture-retentive soil, so add lots of organic matter when planting. In heavy clay soils, plant the bulbs on a layer of coarse sand or gravel to improve drainage.
Temperature
Hollyhocks grow in a temperature range of 60-90ºF as long as conditions are ideal. If the temperature drops below 55ºF, it will die back to the ground.

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Container
When choosing a pot, choose a pot that is 2.5-5 cm (1-2”) larger than the current size. Ceramic pots are porous which means your plants are less likely to experience root rot from overwatering. It also means you'll have to water more often. Plastic pots are lighter, less likely to break, and easier to clean.
Popularity
3,838 people already have this plant 907 people have added this plant to their wishlists