Are double hollyhocks perennial?
Double Hollyhocks are perennial, meaning they will come back each year. Winter hardy as far north as Zone 3, these hollyhocks do not need to be dug up and stored. After your flowers bloom, deadheading wilted flowers will encourage reblooming. In the late fall or early spring, trim your hollyhocks back to the ground.
Hollyhocks have a two to three year life cycle but do reproduce when their flowers seeds fall to the ground. Deadheading your hollyhocks encourages reblooming as well as keeping them from spreading too much.
How tall are double hollyhocks?
Double hollyhocks are an exceptional plant for use in the back of the bed, due to their stately height. Double hollyhocks will grow to between four and seven feet tall, depending upon their variety, sun exposure and nutrients in the soil. Due to their height, hollyhocks will need some type of support.
How do you plant double hollyhocks?
Double hollyhocks are quite easy to grow, and extremely easy to plant! They should be planted in spring. Choose a sunny, well-draining spot where water doesn't pool and where your hollyhocks will receive at least six hours of sunlight per day. Use a trowel or claw tool to work the soil to at least a foot and a half below the surface, breaking up the dirt and taking note of the type of soil in your location. If you have heavy or rocky soil, add compost or loam to improve drainage. Compost can also help to enrich poor-quality soil.
Your bareroots will come with a few roots on them. Place your hollyhock plants in a hole large enough to spread out the roots, backfill with soil and water in well.
When should hollyhock bulbs be planted?
Hollyhocks should be planted in spring, after any threat of frost has passed. Michigan Bulb aims to ship all plants at their best time for planting, so you shouldn't need to store your hollyhocks before planting them. If they arrive before your last frost date, simply store the bulbs in a cool, dry place like a basement or garage.
Where should I plant hollyhocks?
Hollyhocks are tall growers, making them exceptional plants for use in the back of a flower bed, or lining a fence. These double hollyhocks, blooming in a variety of colors, add lots of interest near a home or shed, or standing tall in a border. Plant your hollyhocks in a location that will receive at least six hours of sunlight per day, and in a place where water doesn't pool. Hollyhocks, due to their height, usually need some support. Planting them next to a wall, fence or building is a good idea.
How long does it take for hollyhock bulbs to grow?
These double hollyhocks grow relatively quickly, going from sprout to full-grown in the matter of a couple of months. Your hollyhocks may not reach full height in their first year, but they will grow several feet tall. By the second year, they'll sprout and grow to their full height in a single season!
