Indian Spring Hollyhock

Identification

• Hollyhocks grow between 6 and 8 feet tall with a 1- to 2-foot spread. Their large leaves are heart-shaped and rough to the touch, with between three and seven lobes. The largest leaves are closest to the ground while the leaves near the top of the stem are considerably smaller. The Alcea rosea Indian Spring hollyhock cultivar produces flowering spikes topped by 4-inch-round, single bell-shaped blossoms, in colors ranging from white to salmon and deep pink.

Growing Requirements

• Indian Spring hollyhocks grow best in well-drained, average soil and full sunlight. They maintain their appearance best in areas with some protection from harsh winds. Plants that grow in windy sites may require staking. Water Indian Spring hollyhocks regularly to maintain consistently moist soil and fertilize them once a month for best results. Cut the stalks down to slightly above ground level after they have finished blooming in the spring but continue to water and fertilize them to encourage blooms again in the fall.

Planting Indian Spring Hollyhocks

• You can grow Indian Spring hollyhocks as either a perennial or biennial plant. Plant them early in the spring to get flowers during the first year or plant them later in the year for blooms the following summer. Place the seeds approximately 1/4-inch below the surface of the soil and leave between 18 and 24 inches between the seeds so that they have room to grow. Hollyhocks are generally short-lived, but they will self-seed and grow in the same spot year after year.

Pests

• Thrips are tiny insects that feed on hollyhocks. Severe infestations can cause discoloration and dieback. Japanese beetles, which are usually around 1/2-inch long with shiny green bodies and copper-colored wings, attack the flowers and foliage while cutworms chew down hollyhock stems to feed on new plant growth. Spider mites are tiny arthropods too small to see without magnification. They drain sap from plants, which discolors the leaves. You can identify these pests by the fine webbing they spin on hollyhock leaves. Diseases, such as anthracnose, rust and leaf spot, also damage hollyhock plants.