Hollyhock has vintage charm
THIS SPRING, I NOTICED A TREND—lots of people were asking for some of the great old-fashioned plants. If you want to add vintage charm to your garden, consider any of the varieties of hollyhock, which can be grown from seed to be fabulous old-fashioned plants.
The zebra mallow, a relative of the traditional hollyhock, has soft pink flowers with raspberry purple veins. The flower is reminiscent of a pinwheel. It begins to bloom around the beginning of summer and continues well into September. Although not native to North America, it is popular with bees and butterflies.
This shrub-like plant grows 24 to 48 inches tall and prefers full sun. It is heat- and drought-resistant once established. As a true perennial, it can be short-lived. Because of this, plants are often sold as an annual, biennial and a perennial—so you may need to look at several different departments in your local garden center to find it.
If you have new seeds or saved your own, sow them outside after the last frost free day in spring. Hollyhock is rabbit-resistant, but you should always guard tiny seedlings from potential rabbit damage. If you want to start seeds indoors, start them six to nine weeks before your ideal outdoor planting date. If starting seeds is not your preference, look for ready-to-transplant varieties that provide a little more instant summer garden satisfaction.
