They sure aren't my favorites, even if they don't get something which is rare, the wind knocks them down the minute they look good. Then I have another clean up job which I hate!

I don't plant mine; they just keep popping up from birds seeding them, I guess.

I would send you seeds of a Texas rose mallow, but you would hate me ever after. It reminds me of hollyhocks, but it blooms all up the cane, about a million blooms, then makes seed pods, (each bloom surely making 2 or 3 seed pods), and each seed pod producing seeds by the dozens and dozens!

It has no natural enemies, save one, that being ME! Nothing eats it, not bugs, not deer. Next year your one or two plants that were sooooo purty this year will reproduce to become a wall of a cazillion plants, which will grow the following year to be whatever comes after a cazillion!

This is a scarey plant. I worked so hard to pull the mallow from my flowerbeds. I do know where there are some seeds, tho. That lady would gladly give me some, since I was the one who gave them to her to start with. I am surprised that she hasn't come by my house at night, just to throw a few seeds into the bed by the street.

Can you not just cut the affected leaves from the HHs? Or will they just make rust on all the leaves?

Janie

Same here, token - - I don't do them anymore. I don't even do the Malva Zebrina (unless there are reseeds and they stay only if they behave...)..

Plus Jap Beetles love both hollyhocks and Malvas...hate the rust.. yank them!

Carrie

Janie, I've got a malva already. Two white ones and one purple. I've also got Red Texas Star hibiscus, and several other things that can do the work of tall flower spikes where the Hollyhocks fail me. I think that falls under Nell's thread of This/Not that. The malva is pretty. I've been warned about reseeds already by the seed trader.

I cut leaves all last summer and they finally just died. Not enough green left to provide the roots any food for the winter. I yanked them about 10 minutes ago. I've got four oclock seedlings that need to be planted. I'll put them there instead.

I love hollyhocks. It is one of the plants I remember from visiting my grandmother's farm. Hers just grew in a big clump that came back year after year. I know she didn't do a thing to it, except keep my granddad from mowing it down. Hers never!!! had rust. I can't grow a single plant of hollyhock or the zebrina without instant rust. Someone told me to stick them somewhere out away from everything else and ignore them. Maybe I'll try that....So sad!!! Is there anything you can spray or feed them for rust control? I wonder if the stuff that has stopped the black spot on the rose (Bayer something) might help? Has anyone found anything that helps??

Token-Do you have your Red Texas Star hibiscus in full sun? I got one at a swap last year, couldn't remember the name and planted it in a mostly shade area. When I saw your post I remembered, "That is what it was!!" I have CRS disease and it is getting worse every day.

Debby

My texas star are located in different places. The ones that receive mid day sun are still very small. The ones up against the woods are doing better and get about 3 hours of late day sun from around 3pm til 6/7. My mom used to grow them in SC. She tried for years to kill the root. She even burned it. Thing just put out more stalks the next year.

I like hollyhocks. Some years they look better than others. Even in ideal conditions they get rust, there is just no way around it. I have noticed that my Alcea rugosa isn't as prone to rust or aphids. Looks much better than my others.
CMK

I got Texas Red Star in a trade and they turned out to be white!

They are pretty, but now I have two whites. Darn!
One has HH-type leaves and the other has Marijuana type leaves, so they are not exactly the same, I guess.

Lucky you to have the red!

My red Nicotiana didn't turn out to be red either - it is a rose red color, like a soft brick pink. Pretty but not red.

I have not been very lucky with trades for some reason.

HHs - I have very sandy soil so have great drainage. I got rust one time several years ago, but had them planted in soil that had good water retention. Now that I plant them in the sandy areas, no more rust. That could be the key. since.

(Don't mulch them - the mulch keeps the ground damp under the leaves and that is just a breading place for mold, mildew, insects and disease.)

~Annie

Is this malva or hollyhock?

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I wintersowed both, so I'm not sure if I actually grew HHs this year or not.

I know this is malva zebrina, but the leaves are different on the white one.

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Could those be whites be Lavatera? Carrie

I thought lavatera was more shrub like? That's two plants, one stalk per plant. They're covered in rust too.

I love hollyhocks, but gave up in my garden. I once grew them at a different house and the Japanese Beetles just destroyed them. I've never tried again.

I think they are one of the most beautiful cottage garden plants.

Cameron

I bought a seed packet of Lavatera about three years ago - I thought it was a hollyhock - that's how similar it appeared to me... I pulled it bec the JBs ate it down...

carrie

Question : Is this malva or hollyhock?

figleaf hollyhock

i LOVE hollyhocks ~~ their leaves do look crappy in wet, humid weather, so i just strip their leaves off ~ yeah, i suppose it's a kindof pain in the neck job; but the following picture shows why i think it is sooOOOooo worth it ~ phyl
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Thanks libby. I wintersowed those and they bloomed the same year. They were planted out before the three snows and lots of cold temps. I'm hoping to collect some seed and try these again in a sunnier spot with more air.

agreed: Fig Leaf Hollyhock. You can tell by the leaves - same texture but a different shape than the regular hollyhock.

Hollyhocks do get rust so often. Mine look a lot like yours right now. I just try to ignore it and pull off the worst leaves. They still grow and bloom, and when they are blooming, I think they are just spectacular.

I also love Hollyhocks! Rust or no rust - they are stunning!!!
The thing is rabbits love them as much as I do, and get them every time. I tried to outsmart them, and would hide Hollyhocks in many areas of my garden. Well, so far rabbits - one, I am - zero. Still keep on hoping and planting them every year. And will probably continue.
Where there is a gardener - there is always hope! :)

I absolutely have to have my hollyhocks - I get the rust also but am going to try the copper fungicide on it this year. My Mystic Merlin seems to be OK so far and the lavatara is OK. I will spray them too as a preventative .....

Lynne

I wish I could give you mine. they they’re attracting ants like crazy. they’re a deep wine color.