Is a hollyhock an annual or perennial?

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asked Aug 5, 2022 in Gardening by MDweck (680 points)
Is a hollyhock an annual or perennial?

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answered Aug 16, 2022 by Glorybee (14,280 points)
A Hollyhock is a perennial and not an annual.

Hollyhocks are basically biennial or short-lived perennials and in the first year the hollyhocks put on root and foliage growth and in the second they flower, set seed and then die.

Hollyhocks come in colors which include black, yellow, red, white, purple, pink and blue.

And the tall spikes of hollyhocks are covered with blooms from top to bottom.

Hollyhock plant is used for medicine as well as tea and for just use as a flower.

The seed, root, leaf, stem and flower of the Hollyhock plant is used for medicine for treating issues such as pain, stomach ulcers, wound healing, diabetes, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

You can eat Hollyhock plant as it's edible.

Hollyhock, is completely edible the root, leaves and blossoms and useful for more than just its charming looks.

Hollyhocks symbolize the circle of life, ambition, fertility, and abundance.

Traditionally these flowers have been planted near the front door to welcome in prosperity to the home.

Flavor-wise, hollyhock is quite neutral, which makes it easy to combine with other herbs in a formula.

To extract more of the cooling demulcent properties from hollyhock in a tea, try preparing it using an overnight cold infusion method.

The Hollyhock plant also known as Alcea is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks.

They are native to Asia and Europe.

The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, belongs to a different genus.

Hollyhocks are relatives of the Hibiscus and grow best in garden zones 4 through 8.

They appear to be perennials as they do come back year after year but they are actually biennials which self-seed prolifically.

Plant your Hollyhocks in a well-draining area with full sun to partial shade.

Due to their height, protect from damaging winds and provide support such as a fence, wall, trellis or stake.

Hollyhocks will readily self-seed if left to their own devices, so locate them in an area where this won't be a nuisance.

Hollyhocks are not fussy and survive in many spots but do best in soil that has been amended with compost.

They do not like dry soil.

With adequate moisture and good drainage, hollyhocks can thrive in full sun or partial shade.

Hollyhocks are easy to grow, but they are not without their problems.

When growing hollyhock flowers, you need to keep an eye out for rust.

Rust will typically attack the lower leaves but it may spread to upper leaves.

Hollyhocks are full hardy and don't require any special treatment over winter.

Remove all dead leaves and discard plants that have been badly effected by rust disease.

Hollyhock seeds can be sown outdoors in either pots or in seedbeds in late summer.

In the fall, before the ground freezes, or in the spring after the ground has thawed, move the plants to a permanent location in the garden.

Because of their long taproots, hollyhocks don't like to be disturbed once they are planted.

Toward the end of the growing season, when most of the blooms are finished, you can cut down the main stems of your hollyhocks.

If you want the plant to continue coming back year after year, you can leave some seed pods on the stalk.

These will develop, drop, and contribute to more growth in the coming years.

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