Germination: Sow perennial varieties outdoors anytime in spring or summer, up to 2 months before first fall frost. Or sow biennial varieties indoors in early spring, barely covering seed, Maintaining a temperature of 70° F. Germination takes 10-14 days.

Growth: Plant 18-36 inches apart in full sun in rich, well-drained soil. Water and feed heavily during the growing season and deadhead to encourage reblooming. Taller varieties may require staking. Older plants lose their vitality and, for this reason, Hollyhocks are better treated as biennials. They will self-sow, but may produce plants with different colored blooms. To prevent self-sowing, cut the flowers before they set seed.

Appearance and Use: These plants have colorful bloom spikes for the back of a border, in screens, against a fence or wall alongside gateposts, or framing an entryway. Hollyhocks may be tall (4-6 feet) or dwarf (about 2 feet). They have stiff stems, maple-like foliage and, in summer, spikes of single or double blooms, 3-6 inches wide, in all colors (except blue). Old-fashioned types display bell-shaped petals, while modern types are more often fringed, ruffled, or doubled.