There is hardly a classic cottage garden without hollyhocks, sometimes also called cottage roses. But that's not the only place the mallow is thriving. The hollyhock also fits very well in a modern garden.
Hollyhocks need as much sun as possible
It easily embellishes bare walls or turns your fence into a decorative privacy screen. Since the hollyhock likes to propagate by self-sowing, you will certainly enjoy the colorful flowers for a long time, even if the hollyhock itself is a biennial perennial.
What does the hollyhock need to feel good?
The hollyhock does not tolerate two things at all, these are wet conditions and full shade. Therefore, plant this mallow in a place that is as warm and sunny as possible, never on the north wall of your house. Depending on the variety, the hollyhock, which grows to a height of around 2 m, bends slightly in the wind, so it should either be sheltered from the wind or supported, for example with a stake.
When wet, the hollyhock tends to develop the dreaded mallow rust, so give it well-drained soil. If necessary, loosen it up with coarse sand or some gravel. A lack of nutrients, on the other hand, can be compensated for by the administration of fertilizer.
The best location tips for the hollyhock:
- as sunny as possible
- no full shadow
- well-drained soil, if possible nutrient-rich
- never wet
- protected from the wind or supported
- preferably on a fence or a wall
- not on the north side of a wall
tips
The sunnier you plant your hollyhock, the happier it will feel and the better protected it will be from diseases.