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It is back to cool temperatures after Sunday of hot and humid. It does feel like fall, and looks like all this next week. Enjoy today and stay safe. Monday Labor day last of the summer.
Just asked this question why aren’t my hollyhocks I planted this spring blooming? I didn’t know so I looked it up. I was surprised with the answer. Do you know why they aren’t blooming? Give us your thoughts in the comments. Then read the article.
If you’re looking for a way to dramatize your landscape at the height of summer, you can’t do better than hollyhocks (Alcea rosea). Perfect in cottage gardens and borders, hollyhocks add height and charm to any setting. They are also one of midsummer’s showiest bloomers, but be aware that they do not bloom until their second year.
Identification
Sometimes growing to a height of 8 feet, hollyhocks are a dramatic garden plant. They spread to a width of 1 to 2 feet, and their large, heart-shaped green leaves offer a pleasing background to the showy flowers. Though some varieties may only grow well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9, most hollyhocks grow in USDA zones 2 through 10.
Blooms
Hollyhocks have large, bell-shaped flowers that range from 4 to 5 inches across and are open throated and colorful. Traditionally, the flowers come in red, white or a range of pink hues, but they can also be yellow or violet. Flowers can be single or double and grow upward along the stem.
Because hollyhocks are biennial, flowers do not appear until the second year of growth. Blooms first appear in June and continue flowering through the summer, usually finishing in August.
Culture
Hollyhocks appreciate well-draining soil in full sun. Although they like a medium amount of moisture and grow in a range of soil types, they prefer their soil mostly dry. Wet winter soil usually has negative effects on hollyhocks, and they may die. Although they are technically a biennial, growing vegetatively their first year and flowering their second, hollyhocks readily self-seed and thus may be treated as perennials.
Garden Uses
Their dramatic height makes hollyhocks perfect for plantings along walls and fences, especially as they appreciate wind protection. hollyhocks can be grown without support, provided they are not knocked down by strong winds. They do well as border plants or when planted in masses for a cottage garden appeal. Large blooms and tall stalks add pleasing contrast with other summer plants.
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/hollyhocks-bloom-first-year-71638.html
till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337 cell 641-903-9365
Just asked this question why aren’t my hollyhocks I planted this spring blooming? I didn’t know so I looked it up. I was surprised with the answer. Do you know why they aren’t blooming? Give us your thoughts in the comments. Then read the article.
If you’re looking for a way to dramatize your landscape at the height of summer, you can’t do better than hollyhocks (Alcea rosea). Perfect in cottage gardens and borders, hollyhocks add height and charm to any setting. They are also one of midsummer’s showiest bloomers, but be aware that they do not bloom until their second year.
Identification
Sometimes growing to a height of 8 feet, hollyhocks are a dramatic garden plant. They spread to a width of 1 to 2 feet, and their large, heart-shaped green leaves offer a pleasing background to the showy flowers. Though some varieties may only grow well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9, most hollyhocks grow in USDA zones 2 through 10.
Blooms
Hollyhocks have large, bell-shaped flowers that range from 4 to 5 inches across and are open throated and colorful. Traditionally, the flowers come in red, white or a range of pink hues, but they can also be yellow or violet. Flowers can be single or double and grow upward along the stem.
Because hollyhocks are biennial, flowers do not appear until the second year of growth. Blooms first appear in June and continue flowering through the summer, usually finishing in August.
Culture
Hollyhocks appreciate well-draining soil in full sun. Although they like a medium amount of moisture and grow in a range of soil types, they prefer their soil mostly dry. Wet winter soil usually has negative effects on hollyhocks, and they may die. Although they are technically a biennial, growing vegetatively their first year and flowering their second, hollyhocks readily self-seed and thus may be treated as perennials.
Garden Uses
Their dramatic height makes hollyhocks perfect for plantings along walls and fences, especially as they appreciate wind protection. hollyhocks can be grown without support, provided they are not knocked down by strong winds. They do well as border plants or when planted in masses for a cottage garden appeal. Large blooms and tall stalks add pleasing contrast with other summer plants.
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/hollyhocks-bloom-first-year-71638.html
till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337 cell 641-903-9365
