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When do hollyhocks bloom


Growing Hollyhocks: Planting & Caring for Hollyhock Flowers

Planting and caring for this old-fashioned mid-summer bloomer By Linda Hagen; updated 1/18/2022

'Mars Magic' hollyhock. Photo by: Proven Winners

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. Hollyhocks support the lifecycle of painted lady butterflies as a host plant for their caterpillars and also attract other pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds. If you’ve got a cottage garden, it’s just not complete without a few hollyhocks gracing the edges.

On this page: Basics | Planting | Care | Varieties | Gardening with Hollyhocks

On this page:

HOLLYHOCK BASICS

Zones:

3-9

Height/Spread:

6-8 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide

Exposure:

Full sun to part shade

Bloom time:

June-August

Color and characteristics:

The single or double, cup-shaped flowers have little or no stalk and bloom on tall spikes. Hollyhocks come in a wide variety of colors: blue, pink, purple, red, white, yellow and even black. The tall spikes are covered with blooms from top to bottom. Hollyhock leaves are large, coarse and palmate in shape.

Are hollyhocks poisonous?

Hollyhocks aren’t noted as being poisonous when ingested. However, the stems and leaves can cause skin irritation when the small glass-like fibers on them are touched or brushed against.

Are hollyhocks deer resistant?

Hollyhocks are seldom browsed by deer.

HOW TO PLANT HOLLYHOCKS

How and when to plant hollyhock seeds:

Hollyhocks are easily started from seed indoors or out. Seeds can be sown directly outdoors about a week before last frost. Sow at just ¼ inch deep and about 2 feet apart. Hollyhocks have long taproots, so if seeds are started indoors, use tall, individual pots and transplant early to avoid damage. Start indoor seeds about 9 weeks before the last average frost date. Seedlings can be placed outside two to three weeks after the last frost. Also, bear in mind that some are biennials and may not bloom until their second year.

Where to plant:

Plant in a well-draining area with full sun to partial shade. Due to their height, protect from damaging winds and provide support such as a fence, wall, trellis or stake. Hollyhocks will readily self-seed if left to their own devices, so locate them in an area where this won’t be a nuisance. Also, hollyhocks are one of very few plants that can be planted in proximity to black walnut trees because they are tolerant of the chemical juglone that is leached into the soil by the tree.

HOLLYHOCK CARE

Pruning:

Individual hollyhock flowers can be removed when they fade and entire stalks can be cut back to the base after flowering. This will prevent seed heads from forming and reseeding. Although, if you’d like to have seeds set for next spring, leave the flowers and a few stalks until the seeds have dropped. They’ll die back in winter and all stems and leaves should be cut back to the ground to prevent rust disease from overwintering.

Soil:

Provide rich, moist, well-drained soil for hollyhocks.

Amendments and fertilizer:

Hollyhocks can benefit from a light application of fertilizer or compost in the spring.

Watering:

Provide regular water and keep 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.

Propagation:

Hollyhocks are best, and easiest, grown from seed and they will readily self-seed if flower stalks are left in place.

Diseases and pests:

They are prone to hollyhock rust, a fungal infection that first shows as yellow spots on leaves, then develops into brown or rust colored bumps on the underside of the leaves. Preventing rust is much easier than trying to tame an outbreak. Watering from below, good air circulation and thorough late fall cleanup will go a long way in stopping rust from forming. Any leaves that show signs of rust should be removed from the plant and disposed of to prevent further spread. There are cultivars that have been developed to be more rust resistant, such as Alcea rugosa varieties.

Slugs, snails, spider mites and Japanese beetles can be problematic as well.

Over-wintering:

In areas that get hard freezes, hollyhocks can be grown as annuals, starting seeds in containers and over-wintering indoors. Water sparingly over the winter and gradually reintroduce them outside when the weather begins to warm up.

In other areas where they can be left outside, prune them back to about 6 inches above ground level in the fall. Cover with 4 to 6 inches of straw or mulch over the root zone and base of the plant. In spring, gradually remove in layers to slowly acclimate the roots. Once new growth is emerging, remove all the straw or mulch. Re-cover in case of a spring freeze.

HOLLYHOCK PICTURES

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Photo by: Proven Winners

Alcea rosea ‘Blacknight’— Buy now from Proven Winners

Zones: 3-9

Height / Spread: 5 to 6 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide

Exposure: Full sun

Bloom time: Mid-summer

Color: Purple-black

The darkest of the Spotlight series, this almost black hollyhock is a standout in the garden. This variety behaves more like a short-lived perennial than a biennial.

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Photo by: Proven Winners

Alcea rosea ‘Mars Magic’— Buy now from Proven Winners

Zones: 3-9

Height / Spread: 5 to 6 feet tall, 2 feet wide

Exposure: Full sun

Bloom Time: Mid-summer

Color: Shades of red

Another cultivar from the Spotlight series that offers single red flowers.

Photo by: Garden World Images Ltd. / Alamy Stock Photo.

Alcea rosea ‘Queeny Purple’

Zones: 3-8

Height / Spread: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide

Exposure: Full sun

Bloom Time: Mid to late summer

Color: Deep purple

One of the shortest varieties, its 3- to 4-inch, frilly-edged flowers bloom with season-long color. Its compact size makes it perfect for smaller gardens and containers. Will flower the first year if planted in February.

Photo by: Garden World Images Ltd. / Alamy Stock Photo.

Alcea rosea ‘Chater’s Double’

Zones: 3-8

Height / Spread: 5 to 7 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide

Exposure: Full sun

Bloom Time: Mid to late summer

Color: Available in a variety of colors: yellow, pink, purple, red, white and salmon (shown).

These tend to be true biennials, blooming in their second year with fluffy double hollyhock flowers.

Photo by: Gardeningpix / Alamy Stock Photo.

Alcea rosea Indian Spring Mix

Zones: 3-7

Height / Spread: 5 to 8 feet tall, 12 to 18 inches wide

Exposure: Full sun

Bloom Time: Early to mid-summer

Color: A mix in various shades of pink and white.

Old-fashioned hollyhocks with single or semi-double flowers will bloom the first year if planted early in spring. Cut back after flowering and you may get a second round in the fall.

Photo by: aaor2550 / Shutterstock.

Alcea rosea Majorette Mix

Zones: 5-8

Height / Spread: 2 feet tall and wide

Exposure: Full sun

Bloom Time: Mid-summer

Color: A mix of colors (shades of pink, yellow, orange, red and white)

This dwarf variety has a bushy habit and fringed, semi-double flowers. Excellent for front or middle of borders or in containers. This variety will also bloom the first year if planted early enough.

Photo by: Walters Gardens, Inc.

Alcea rosea ‘Fiesta Time’

Zones: 3-9

Height / Spread: 3 feet tall, 18 to 24 inches wide

Exposure: Full sun

Bloom Time: Mid-summer

Color: Cerise pink

A relatively shorter version with double, fringed blossoms that will bloom in the first year. Its shorter stature makes it a good choice for courtyard gardens and containers.

Photo by: Walters Gardens, Inc.

Alcea rosea Halo Series Cerise

Zones: 3-9

Height / Spread: 5 to 6 feet tall, 2 feet wide

Exposure: Full sun

Bloom Time: Early to mid-summer

Color: Bicolor, cerise pink with deep purple center

The Halo series blooms with single, bicolor flowers with either lighter or darker centers. Others in the series are candy, blush, and lavender.

Photo by: Walters Gardens, Inc.

Alcea rosea Halo Series Blush

Zones: 3-9

Height / Spread: 5 to 6 feet tall, 2 feet wide

Exposure: Full sun

Bloom Time: Early to mid-summer

Color: White with fuchsia halo and yellow center

A bright and colorful addition to a cottage garden or border.

Photo by: ArgenLant / Shutterstock.

Alcea rugosa

Zones: 4-8

Height / Spread: 4 to 9 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide

Exposure: Full sun

Bloom Time: July to August

Color: Light yellow with darker center

An old garden favorite that originated in Russia, flowers with 4-inch blooms that attract hummingbirds and are edible. Also proven to be more disease-resistant than other species.

GARDENING WITH HOLLYHOCKS

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Do Hollyhocks Bloom the First Year? | Home Guides

By Nathalie Alonso Updated July 20, 2021

Most of the vintage cottage garden perennials known as hollyhocks (Alcea spp.) are biennials, which means they produce flowers in their second year when started from seed. Hollyhocks typically die after producing flowers; however, sometimes they bloom for several years, which is why they are also described as "short-lived perennials." Hollyhocks are hardy in USDA hardiness plant zones 2 to 10.

Tip

When grown from seed, most hollyhocks will not bloom until their second year.

Types of Hollyhocks

Hollyhocks range in height from 3 to 8 feet, according to Better Homes & Gardens. The Russian hollyhock (Alcea rugosa, zones 4-8), which is native to Ukraine, can be up to 9 feet tall, reports the Missouri Botanical Garden. There are cultivars with single and double blooms. The 'Indian Spring' hollyhock (Alcea rosea 'Indian Spring', zones 2-10), which comes in white, pink and yellow, is a single bloom option. Cultivars with double blooms include the 'Peaches 'n Dreams' hollyhock (Alcea rosea 'Peaches 'n Dreams' zones 2-8).

A few hollyhocks are annuals that will bloom in their first year when planted early enough. One example is the 'Queeny Purple' hollyhock (Alcea rosea 'Queeny Purple, zones 2-10)', which All-American Selections reports will produce plenty of flowers in its first year if sown in February or March. March plantings will begin to bloom in May. 'Queeny Purple' is a short cultivar, with heights between 20 and 30 inches.

Growing Hollyhock Flowers

With their towering heights and large flowers that can grow 4 to 5 inches wide, hollyhocks are a great option for planting in borders or against fences and walls. They grow best in full sun, which is defined as six hours of sun or more a day. In windy locations, tall hollyhock cultivars may need to be staked. Hollyhocks are not picky about soil, but they require good drainage, especially in the winter.

Biennial and perennial hollyhocks bloom from June to August. The Missouri Botanical Garden recommends planting hollyhock seeds in August or September. Hollyhocks have a long, delicate taproot that can make transplanting difficult, so it is best to plant seeds directly into the garden. South Dakota State University Extension recommends spacing plants 12 to 18 inches apart. Note that in some parts of the United States, Alcea rosea is considered invasive because of its propensity to self-seed.

Caring for Hollyhocks

To improve the odds that your hollyhocks will produce flowers beyond their second year, the South Dakota State University Extension recommends removing spent blooms immediately so that the plant does not waste energy producing seeds. That said, according to Cornell University, you might instead want to allow hollyhock seeds to propagate and grow, which will create a perennial effect once the plants are established in the garden.

Hollyhocks tend to suffer from rust, a fungal leaf disease that, according to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, spreads easily and can stunt plants and cause leaf drop. It first appears as yellow spots on the lower leaves. Eventually, raised red lesions show up on the undersides of leaves. To prevent rust from developing on your hollyhocks, keep the leaves dry and provide good air circulation. You should also keep hollyhock beds free of weeds and avoid using the seeds of infected plants.

References

Writer Bio

Since beginning her career as a professional journalist in 2007, Nathalie Alonso has covered a myriad of topics, including arts, culture and travel, for newspapers and magazines in New York City. She holds a B.A. in American Studies from Columbia University and lives in Queens with her two cats.

Mallows in the garden | GreenMarket

Mallow is a flower that does not require special introduction, as it has been known to us since childhood. Previously, she was a frequent guest of the village front gardens, she was sung in songs, depicted on canvases. But time passed, many new "overseas" plants appeared, against which the mallow began to look rustic, having lost its value among gardeners for some period. But for me, it is a soulful and symbolic flower, which has extraordinary beauty and is considered a leader in unpretentiousness. And new varieties of mallow simply delight with a variety of colors and shapes of flowers. I believe that this flower is worthy of your attention, and perhaps after reading this article you will want to settle it in your garden. nine0003

What is mallow like?

There are many genera and species in the mallow family, all of them are very diverse in height, color and structure of the bush. Depending on the species and variety, their stems can be lying, ascending or straight, naked or woolly-pubescent. You can find low-growing mallows up to 30 cm high and tall ones - up to 2 m or more. The leaves of the mallow are quite large, slightly pubescent, round-toothed, with a heart-shaped base. The peduncle is covered with numerous simple or double flowers up to 12 cm in diameter, which are shaped like a wide bell. The color of the flowers is varied: white, pink, cream, yellow, dark red. Flowering occurs in the second year after planting, from June to August. nine0003

Flowering occurs in the second year after planting, from June to August.

Many species of mallow are considered unpretentious plants, they easily adapt to any soil conditions, and are also quite drought and frost resistant.
In ornamental floriculture, plants from the genus Mallow, or Mallow, or Stockrose are widely used, the number of varieties of which is difficult to count.

Mallow or mallow

Mallow

Mallow

Wood mallow (M. sylvestris) is a perennial herbaceous plant 100–120 cm high. A distinctive feature of this flower is dark stripes on pink flower petals. With its flowering, it pleases gardeners until autumn.

The most famous varieties are:

Moravia - dark pink flowers with bright red veins;
Zebrina large light pink flowers with purplish red veins; nine0014 Primley Blue - characterized by creeping shoots and pale purple flowers.

Zebrina

Moravia

Primley Blue

The leaves of this plant in the Caucasus are used for food, just like spinach. Now it is widely grown and harvested to obtain valuable medicinal raw materials.

Malva , or Mauritanian mallow (M. mauritiana) is a biennial plant, often grown as an annual, as it does not tolerate our frosts well. The stems of the plant are bare, erect, up to 150–200 cm high, densely strewn with dark pink flowers during flowering, 5–15 pieces in the leaf axils. The Mauritanian mallow blooms for a long time, from July until autumn. nine0003

Malva , or hybrid mallow (M. hybrida) is a fairly tall plant (up to 2 m), the stems of which are covered with gorgeous double flowers of pink, scarlet or white. It tolerates frosts down to -15 ° C, therefore, in our regions it is often grown as an annual crop. It blooms from mid-June to October.

Malva , or musky mallow (M. moschata) is a perennial plant over 1 m high, differs from other types of mallow by high frost resistance (down to –35 °C) and wonderful aroma of flowers. The color of the flowers is delicate, usually snow-white or pink. It is worth paying attention to the variety White Perfection - an undersized variety with a height of 40 to 65 cm, with snow-white flowers about 5 cm in diameter. nine0003

hybrid mallow

musky mallow

Mauritanian mallow

Stockrose

Rose stockrose (Alcea rosea L.) is a biennial herbaceous plant. It is the pink stockrose that we remember when we hear the name mallow. The height of the plant varies depending on the variety and can range from 50 to 200 cm. Stockrose has been grown in the gardens of Europe since the fifteenth century. It is not surprising that over six centuries of breeding, a lot of varieties of this plant have been bred: with simple and double flowers (up to 12 cm in diameter), high and low, painted in various colors. Stockrose blooms in the middle of summer and blooms for more than 2.5 months. nine0003

For ease of orientation in the numerous varieties of stockrose, they were combined into variety groups. The most famous are:

Majorette Mixed - compact plants up to 75 cm high, with large semi-double flowers, similar to carnations.
Chater's Double - "giant" plants, up to 2 m high, with large double flowers of various colors, which are similar to peonies.
Halo simple flowers in a variety of colors with a rich center of color that creates a radiant effect, often compared to English roses. nine0014 Chaters Double Mixed is a plant of English selection, up to 200 cm high, flowers are very large, up to 15 cm in diameter. This group includes surprisingly beautiful varieties with densely double flowers.

Majorette Mixed

Chaters Double Mixed

But if you do not get attached to individual cultivar groups, then I can recommend interesting varieties to amateur gardeners with both double and simple flowers, as well as undersized varieties that are becoming more and more popular. nine0003

Double flower cultivars:

Chater's Double Icicle - large double flowers of pure white color with a hint of vanilla.
Peach'n'Dreams - an incredibly delicate double flower with a peach color and corrugated petals.

Single flower cultivars:

Halo Apricot Single pale pink flowers with a deep purple spot in the center.
Nigra - simple non-double flowers of dark purple color. nine0014 Summer Memories - bright pink "satin" flowers with a rich yellow center.

Low-growing varieties:

Fiesta Time F1 is a fairly new variety, the flowers are deep pink in the center and delicate at the edges, gardeners compare them to strawberries with cream.

Peach'n'Dreams

Fiesta Time F1

It is worth mentioning that many varieties, especially terry ones, are heterotic hybrids and do not transfer their properties through newly formed seeds. nine0003

Exotic species of mallow for the garden

Rosella or Kramade , Malva Sudanskaya (Hibiscus sabdariffa) or hibiscus Sabdiffh , Sudanese rose, as well as an end, Kenaph, Rosa Sharon Sharon Sharon and all these are numerous names of plants , from which a wonderful hibiscus drink is prepared. The homeland of the plant is India, but it became so popular and spread around the world so long ago that it even received the status of the Egyptian national drink. Rosella is an annual plant, it can be grown on the territory of Ukraine, especially in the southern regions. Grow it through seedlings, sowing seeds in March. In hot summer it grows to a height of more than 1 m, and already in August you can start collecting and drying the plant. For brewing, mainly only dark red petals, calyxes of flowers are used. nine0003

Rosella is an annual plant, it can be grown on the territory of Ukraine, especially in the southern regions.

Hibiscus sabdariffa

fruits of the Sudanese rose

Okra

Okra , or edible hibiscus (Hibiscus esculentus), - a plant from tropical African gardeners, can and should also be of interest to gardeners. This annual plant uses young fruits. They are boiled and eaten alone or combined with other vegetables. Okra seeds are also used as green peas. Nutritionists consider okra a very valuable crop, as it contains many useful trace elements. At present, low-growing varieties are also bred - up to 50 cm tall, and tall ones - up to 2 m. Okra is grown through seedlings or seeds are sown directly into the ground, then the fruit is harvested a little later. In Ukraine, at the experimental station of the IOB NAAS, two varieties of this plant were bred - Sopilka and Dibrova. nine0003

Okra seeds are also used as green peas.

Hibiscus esculentus

bumia fruits

Seed propagation of mallows

Sowing mallow seeds in open ground. Sow seeds outdoors in late May or early June, when the threat of morning frost has passed and the soil warms up to +10 ºC. Before planting, it is necessary to dig or loosen the soil, as well as add dry humus or compost. Then, 2–3 mallow seeds are sown in holes up to 3 cm deep. It is necessary to observe the distance between the holes, depending on the variety, it can be 25–50 cm. After that, the seeds are sprinkled with earth, but not more than 3 cm, and moistened. The first shoots can be seen within two weeks after planting. As soon as 2-3 true leaves are formed on the seedlings, they must be thinned out, leaving one sprout in the hole. With this method of planting, flowering can only be expected next year. nine0003

An interesting fact is that the seeds of two or three years of storage have better germination than freshly harvested.

Growing through seedlings. Good seedlings are obtained by sowing seeds in peat tablets, which, after removing the shell, are placed directly in the ground. This is good because it does not allow the long and fragile mallow roots to be damaged during transplantation.

In order for the seeds to germinate well, before planting, they must be placed in warm water with a temperature of up to 45 ºC and left for 12 hours. If the seeds are sown in boxes, they are placed in rows, and when the seedlings get stronger, they are thinned out, leaving a distance of about 3 cm between them. It is necessary to maintain a favorable temperature for seed germination in the room - 18–20 ºC. nine0003

After 2-3 leaves are formed on seedlings, they dive into larger boxes or seedling beds. When the plants get stronger, they can be taken out to fresh air so that they harden.

Mallow Care

Location. The site must be sunny, protected from cold winds. If the flowers are planted in partial shade, flowering will not be as bright. It is better to plant high mallow near fences or walls, they will cover it from drafts and serve as a support for lush peduncles. nine0003

Soil. The best option is loose loamy soil, which is rich in humus and sufficiently permeable. But if you do not have such conditions, you can fertilize the soil with humus or apply mineral fertilizers.

Watering Malva needs moderate watering - once a week, it does not tolerate dampness. On hot days, it is enough to water 2-3 times a week, but at the same time make sure that the water does not stagnate in the soil.

Fertilizer and top dressing. nine0024 It is necessary to feed the mallow at the time of bud formation, approximately every 25 days, with complex mineral fertilizers, after which it should be watered abundantly. Intensive flowering is facilitated by foliar treatment of plants with Bud.

Maintenance measures to be taken: Loosening the soil, removing weeds, tying tall stems and timely cutting off dead buds.

Seed collection. When the mallow fades, the process of formation of the seed box begins, which takes about a month. After the box has turned yellow and opened, the seeds can be collected. Seeds must be dried well for 10 days, then placed in a paper bag or linen bag, stored in a warm, dry place. nine0003

Diseases and pests. Malva rarely gets sick, but when the soil is waterlogged, it can be affected by rust or powdery mildew. Pests are leaf beetles, spider mites and wood lice.

If the mallow grows in comfortable conditions for it and is properly cared for, then more than 150 flowers can be counted on its peduncle.

"Rustic beauty" in your garden

mallow in a mixborder

country style

undersized mallows in pots

Mallow, or stockrose, has always been considered a background plant and is usually planted along fences, walls and fences to create a picturesque vertical background. But today, new terry varieties of mallow have been bred, which allow gardeners to experiment and plant them along the borders, in flower beds, flower beds and mixborders.

Often, mallow is used for planting along paths in combination with sunflowers, phlox, rudbeckia and delphinium - just like in grandmother's front gardens loved since childhood or in a country-style garden. nine0003

Mallow is also excellent in single plantings, against the background of a green lawn, its numerous flowers will create a bright color spot. And also with its help you can create an amazing hedge, which will allow you to delimit the space on the site.

Mallow planted against a background of trees looks like a tall undergrowth, which creates an image of wildlife. In those areas where it propagates by self-seeding, its combination with wild plants, such as chamomile or echinacea, will be successful. nine0003

You can enjoy the beauty of mallows not only in the garden, but also in a vase. If you cut off the still unopened buds, then the bouquet can stand up to 2 weeks. It is interesting to try growing undersized varieties in containers.

Useful properties

All parts of the plant are suitable for consumption and considered useful:

● dried roots have an expectorant and anti-inflammatory effect;
● Sudanese mallow fruit is used to make hibiscus tea, which has an invigorating effect, as it contains many vitamins and antioxidants; nine0014 ● leaves have a healing and soothing effect, so I make bath infusions and cosmetic masks from them.

Malva can safely be considered a symbol of Ukrainian gardens and front gardens. Her presence has a calming effect, giving comfort and a special flavor. And if you have not yet decided what flowers you want to plant in your garden, pay attention to this simple “peasant lady” - a bright mallow!

Malva - photo, planting and care in the open field, growing from seeds and using in landscape design

Many gardeners are familiar with mallow, it is also a stock-rose or mallow - this is a tall plant with bright flowers. Every year in May, the Kamigamo Shrine in the Chinese city of Kyoto hosts a festival dedicated to mallow. On this day, all residents with music and dances march through the city in ancient costumes. In Russia, this flower has experienced both the peak of popularity among gardeners and a certain decline, but now interest in this beautiful flower is rising again. It will serve as a decoration for a personal plot or garden of any size. nine0003

Contents

  • 1 How to grow

    • 1.1 Blooming years

    • 1.2 Where to plant

    • 1.3 Role in landscape design: ideas in the photo

    • 1. 4 Climatic conditions

  • 2 Popular varieties

    • 2.1 Sudanese

    • 2.2 Wrinkled

    • 2.3 Musk

      nine0276

    • 2.4 Annual violet

  • 3 Fitting methods

    • 3.1 Planting in open ground

      • 3.1.1 Instruction video

    • 3.2 Growing seedlings

      • 3.2.1 Sowing mallow seeds for seedlings, video

    • 3.3 Planting with cuttings

  • 4 Care before flowering

  • 5 After flowering, wintering

  • 6 Diseases and pests

  • 7 Reviews of growing mallow

How to grow

It is believed that growing mallow is not very difficult, it is enough to follow simple agricultural practices. The plant loves sunlight, but grows in the shade, only a little slower.

How many years blooms

The plant is annual, biennial and perennial. nine0023 Gardeners and landscape designers prefer perennials - they take root well on the site and can delight the owner with flowers for up to 10 years, if properly cared for. Biennial varieties bloom profusely, but only in the second year after planting. There are also annual varieties. Characteristic for them is the forest mallow.

The flowering of such an annual lasts much longer than that of perennial varieties, which usually become active by mid-summer

She has peculiar, delicate flowers. And it blooms for a long time: from the 2nd half of May to mid-autumn. nine0003

Where to plant

Usually mallow is able to grow up to two meters, that's why it is called stock-rose. "Stock" in German is a stick, and this name of the plant literally translates as "stick with roses", which is quite accurate.

This tall flower looks great next to the door of the house

Low-growing varieties of mallow are also bred by breeders, they look very impressive in flowerpots, tubs, on balconies and loggias. Mallow is also luxurious in cut. In bouquets, it can stand in water for up to a month. nine0003

Role in landscape design: ideas in the photo

Mallow is very beautiful against the background of a wooden fence
Stately mallow flowers seem to serve as backs for benches
Coquettishly peeking out from behind a white fence, pink mallow looks charming
Such charming plants will decorate both the corner of the yard and the veranda. nine0392
In addition to the fact that this flower pleases the inhabitants of the house with beauty and aroma, due to its height, it also shades the windows in the heat.
This set looks great in a flower pot.

Climatic conditions

Homeland mallow - southern regions, it is actively cultivated in Asia Minor, China, there is a mention of this culture in ancient Egypt. nine0023 But in the temperate climate of Russia, she also feels good, only for the winter she needs to be cut and covered.

Popular varieties

There are many varieties of stock roses today, and even individual varieties have their own subspecies. But traditionally there are the most popular - both among gardeners and designers.

Sudanese

These stock roses are giants in the world of horticultural crops, they reach 3 meters

Very ancient plant. It is curious that this variety is used not only for decorative purposes. Delicious honey drinks are prepared from the fruits of the Sudanese mallow. Decoctions are used in folk medicine as an expectorant and anti-inflammatory agent. nine0003

Refers to biennial varieties.

Wrinkled

This species is often compared to peonies, the flowers are really very similar

Originally these flowers were called stock roses. They are very popular with breeders. Dwarf varieties have been bred, the growth of which does not exceed 75 cm. But there are also medium-sized and high ones, reaching up to 2 m.

Musk

This crop is low, does not grow above 1 m

The flowers of this variety are very delicate, white or pinkish. Several subspecies are known, among which the White Tower and the Pink Tower, as well as the White Perfection, are especially popular. nine0003

Purple Annual

This flower loves sunny places where it blooms luxuriantly and for a long time

A direct descendant of the forest variety, therefore very unpretentious. considered a relatively tall plant, stems exceeding 1 m.

Fitting methods

Like most flowering crops, stock roses can be planted outdoors or as seedlings.

Outdoor planting

Seeds of this flower can even reproduce on their own - falling to the ground, they germinate well. But it is better to take this process into your own hands. Step by step you need to act like this:

Instruction video

Seeds are recommended to be planted either in early spring or late autumn, before winter. The latter option is preferable for early flowering, as the stem-rose easily tolerates winter.

Growing seedlings

Before planting, it is recommended to soak the seeds in a nutrient solution, and then proceed as follows:

Sowing mallow seeds for seedlings, video

Experienced gardeners recommend using seeds that have been stored for 3 years - they have the highest percentage of germination. nine0003

Planting with cuttings

The stock rose has one drawback: the flowers grown from seeds quickly pollinate during the first year. To maintain varietal qualities, some gardeners prefer propagation by cuttings.

For better rooting, it is preferable to use preparations such as Kornevin

The following principles make sense here:

Pre-bloom care

Of course, the stock rose can be classified as "planted and forgotten", it can grow with little or no care if it rains occasionally. But in this case, the plant will be much lower, with small flowers.

Caring for the mallow is easy:

Before the appearance of inflorescences, it is recommended to feed the plant with a nitrogen-containing fertilizer. nine0003

Ammonium nitrate is one of the most inexpensive and common nitrogen-containing fertilizers

In order for flowering to be beautiful and abundant, faded buds must be cut off.

After flowering, wintering

Approximately in the middle of September, after flowering ends, the plants should be gradually prepared for wintering. Cut stems. In the southern regions, pruning can be done at a height of 30-35 cm, this will allow new shoots to form earlier in the spring. In regions with a frosty climate, pruning is carried out at the root, covered not only with mulch and foliage, but also with additional material or spruce branches. nine0003

Such a shelter both creates additional heat and allows the plant to "breathe"

If the plant is not provided with such shelter, it may die even with slight but frequent frosts.

Diseases and pests

Plots of mallow, one-year, two- and perennial, can be affected by various fungi and insects, therefore, in addition to general care of the flower, it is necessary to think about protection from them.

Mallow is often attacked by slugs. The surge in their number in recent years is probably associated with climate warming and a long heat wave, slugs climb up along a strong stem to get moisture in leaves and flowers.

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