My neighbor’s hollyhocks are blooming again. They tower over her garden with huge flowers and I admit to being a wee bit jealous. The old-fashioned garden hollyhock of my childhood storybooks is also called Althaea rosea. They are native to the Mediterranean region which means they make perfect flowers for a low water yard. See? You can have a drought tolerant garden full of flowers.
Hollyhocks do well in alkaline soil, like the heavy clay dirt common in my area. Flower colors range from white, light and dark pinks reds and a rich, dark red that looks black. Other unique varieties have double flowers that look like pom-poms, or color variations from stripes to contrasting centers. Many varieties will overseed and come back next year. Try them in the back of the border; some can grow up to 9 feet tall!
Drop by the USDA Plants Database to find hollyhocks native to your area. Some are endangered; Peter’s Mountain Mallow (Iliamna corei) native in general to the US and Iliamna remota from Virginia and Indiana. These hollyhocks have glowing white flowers that must look stunning in moonlight. They can grow from 4 to 6 feet in height.
I found a few seed suppliers using Google Shopping, but perhaps some of my seed saver friends will consider saving seed and offering it to other home gardeners; not only for it’s ethereal beauty but to help save a species!
I always recommend you try to plant a few native plants in your garden, they are the easiest to take care of because they don’t really need you; they’re already adapted to your climate.
Happy gardening!
This is a great post. It’s Very informative and well writing.
This is a great post. It’s Very informative and well writing.
plant service Los Angeles
Organized content is the best way to display or post an article, thank you for making it easy to digest your
Flower seeds
Hollyhock is one of the few flowers I planted right away when I moved in. I can't imagine my garden without them and look forward to the 2011 blooms.
we had hollyhocks in illinois where i grew up. see them sometimes in the english gardens in downtown area of laguna beach (where the little old bungalows are). i'm inspired to give them a shot!
I grew up in Ohio. We had hollyhocks in our garden there. This pink is lovely.