Hollyhock Seeds Mixed Colors Cottage Garden or Prairie flowers make a great statement in any garden or meadow, that needs some height.
This listing is for x25 + seeds of mixed solid color hollyhock flowers that can be grown on mass in a long grass prairie meadow or in an ornamental border.
Mix it up with native wildflowers by adding some garden-worthy garden hollyhock seeds is a great addition to garden borders in full-sun or plant single Hollyhocks for a feel of the English cottage garden, best grown with native flowers as they are better for attracting a wide-range of pollinators.
Grow Hollyhocks in full sun where free-draining soil does not dry out completely, irrigate during dry spells for best performance, and disease-free plants.
Plant Garden Hollyhock seeds, as single flowers are more Popular with Hummingbirds and Butterflies the single-flowered Alcea are best grown for attracting pollinators so delightful and they grow together happily. Native in Asia and Europe the Hollyhock is widely grown as an ornamental plant with no-known aggressive tendancies the garden Hollyhock is an easy and popular flowering perennial to grow at home.
Sow Garden Hollyhock seeds direct in fall or start indoors a few weeks prior to the late frost date in your area.
Garden Hollyhock seeds are often considered bi-annual or short lived perennial since they take a second growing season to send up a flower stem, they can be tricked into flowering ahead of schedule by sowing in late Summer or early fall. Growing on plants through fall to winter and then dormancy signals the hollyhock to flower the following Summer.
Old fashioned garden perennials often make a comeback and the Hollyhock is no exception, if grown in ideal growing conditions they can return for many years. Cold winters and wet waterlogged soil is often the cause of their demise as the roots perish if exposed to the frozen ground for prolonged periods. Grow Hollyhocks in full sun where free-draining soil does not dry out completely, irrigate during dry spells for best performance, and disease-free plants
Often seen as a carnival of mixed colors, modern-day gardeners are choosing a more select pallet and choosing the vibrant long flowering parade of colors for subtle blends and contrast.
Easy to grow from seed the plants will benefit from a rich leaf mulch annually, on wet soils will benefit from washed fine sand or grit to improve drainage. I ahve grown hollyhocks in gardens internationally and find they are best grown as tall border accent or feature plant, collect seedfrom your favorites and re-sow this short-lived garden perennial often.
Parent plants will readily set seed and cross-pollination is likely resulting in some colorful variations after a number of years. I have been growing these proud 5ft+ hollyhocks for many years and have a range of single flower colors for sale.
Check out my unique colorful mix of 25+ seeds from my homegrown collection of double frilled pastel shades to a vibrant color palette long flowering Malva.
Sowing Tips:
Cold Stratification or Direct Sowing: Recommended. (See Winter Jug Method )
Direct sow seeds in fall and allow seeds to naturally cold stratify. When starting seeds indoors, sow finely and barely cover seeds with soil. I recommend sowing these seeds, direct in Fall on a prepared seedbed or garden container, water well, and protect from winter weather with a fabric fleece if some seeds germinate early. Also known as cold stratification and can be completed anytime of the year by placing seed packs in a cool drawer of a refrigerator for 4-12 weeks to break seed dormancy.
1) Sow direct in a prepared weed-free seedbed
2) Cold frame sheltered location in small pots outdoors
3) Under lights indoor grow room
4) Bright windowsill with drip tray and propagator cover
I like to grow in pots this way you can break dormancy, simply by moving the pots around and most seeds germinate in batches, care must be taken when picking out to avoid disturbing emerging seedlings.
Growing Tips:
Pot young plants on until large enough to plant out, this native plant mix prefers poor soil in full sun. Hollyhocks are prone to leaf rust spots and these are best removed when first observed. The rust spores overwinter in plant debris, so when mulching or cutting back be extra vigilant around hollyhocks to remove those unwanted overwintering spores.
Hollyhocks, foxgloves and delphiniums are all prone to root rot if they overwinter in wet, frozen soil to limit early losses, I like to added clean washed sand or fine grit around the base of my hollyhock plants. I only cut back the large stems to 2-3ft high leaving the dead hollow stems for overwintering bugs and nesting sites for spring native bees. The robust stems also provide protection and support for the newly emerging leaves in Spring.
Remember a perfect leaf without holes or tears, is not wildlife friendly! Invite caterpillars, bettles, bugs and critters to visit your garden plants and in-turn support and help balance your gardens eco-system. more growing tips .. Easy sow and grow
Have you considered Native plants?
Full instructions, border design and planting ideas available online by searching igrowhort native-seed-collections.
Native plants maintain balance and provide habitat and eco-systems for resident and migratory wildlife. Due to many years of ecological destruction, development and toxic pollution many native wild flowers, and wildlife are under-threat of extinction.
We all have an important role to play, no matter how small your garden or balcony a few plant pots filled with natives instead of alien ornamentals of genetic hybrids that offer very little to no benefit to feeding insects and birds.
Time to make a small difference on a global scale and encourage our neighbors friends and families to sow a patchwork quilt of native wildflowers like a blanket to protect our sacred planet!
Be kind to the life you live and those you share it with.
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