Heirloom, Open Pollinated. 60" Tall, Blooms Summer Through Fall
Hollyhocks are primarily biennials, meaning they grow leafy foliage the first year, produce tall flower stalks and set seed the second year, then die back. They reseed themselves readily so they often appear to be perennial for this reason. In the first year they develop a strong root system and focus on growth, not flowers. In the second year hollyhocks send up the tall iconic tall flower stalk, blooms, produces seeds then die. However, I've noticed here in the desert, zone 9b, that in years we don't get a freeze the hollyhocks don't die back and send up their beautiful stalks of flowers a second year in a row.
Planting Instructions:
Hollyhocks are best planted in early spring or late fall to naturally cold-stratify* seeds.
Starting Indoors: For earlier blooms, you may optionally cold-stratify seeds for at least 30 days then start planting indoors in containers 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost date in Spring, keeping seedlings at least 65F. Harden off then transplant seedlings outdoors in a sunny location when temperatures are consistently above 60F. To transplant seedlings, prepare a transplant hole outdoors in a sunny location. Remove the plants carefully from the pots or flats and set them in the transplant holes, burying some of the stem in the ground. Pack the soil loosely around the plant and leave a slightly sunken area around each plant to hold water. Water the plants after transplanting.
Direct Sowing: If directly sowing outdoors, plant after the first hard frost in early Spring to cold-stratify seeds. Plants will germinate in late Spring when the soil warms to at least 60F. Fall planting is not recommended unless planting outdoors in environments with mild, frost-free winters, or planting indoors with supplemental grow lights. For blooms in late Spring of the following year, sow outdoors after the first hard frost in Fall to cold-stratify seeds.
Plant 1/2" deep and spaced about 12 - 18 inches apart. Plant 2-3 seeds per hole and cover thinly with soil. Water after planting.
Care:
Hollyhocks need consistency moisture when young, but established plants are fairly drought-tolerant. Water deeply at the base (not the leaves) to prevent rust, aiming for moist, well drained soil. Watering in the morning, especially in hot climates, allows for maximum absorption before the heat. In extreme heat, like the Arizona desert, mulch helps keep the moisture in the soil and creates a cooler environment.
*Cold stratification is a gardening technique that mimics winter by subjecting seeds to a period of cold, typically 33 - 41 degrees in a refrigerator, to break seed dormancy and trigger germination. Some people put seeds on a damp paper towel to help with stratification, I've had equal luck with simply placing the seed packet in the refrigerator for the allotted amount of time.
Photos Copyright Susan R. Stoltz 2025
