Hollyhock

Common Name: Hollyhock

Scientific Name: Alcea rosea

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7

Approximate number of seeds per gram (ounce) : 100 to 200 (3,000 to 6,000)

Sun: full sun

Water: keep soil moist during germination, do not overwater

Soil: cover with 1/8 inch of soil, use rich, well-drained soil

Temperature: 21 to 22 degrees Celsius (70 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit)

Spacing: 15 to 20 inches between plants

Germination Time: 5 to 10 days

The hollyhock will grow to four to eight feet in height and staking is recommend in areas with high winds.  Some of the height can be controlled by pinching the growth early in the season to create a shorter plant with more branches.  Planting against a fence or home provides an attractive background plant while at the same time sheltering the plant from wind.  Unless sown early in the season, hollyhocks will not bloom until the following season.  Hollyhocks form tap roots and thus, do not transplant well.