I don't know if you can plant the seeds directly now or not, but you could winter sow them. Although if you do that, you probably won't have flowers the first year. I'm sure you probably are wondering what I mean by "winter sow." (I note that you're new to GardenWeb.) Just go over to the Winter Sowing forum on the Exchanges and Trading forum and read the FAQ's. I think you'll find it very interesting. I've been planting seeds via the winter sowing method for 3 winters now and I've got lots of plants I wouldn't have otherwise. Peek into the threads in the forum and you'll see what I mean.

Good luck.

Harriet

August is the perfect time to throw your hollyhock seeds onto the ground. They'll come up now, but not bloom. Next year they'll bloom. Just make sure they hit dirt, not grass. I love hollyhocks!

My hollyhocks are finishing up flowering and dropping their seeds right now. I figure if Mother Nature is planting the seeds, its probably the best time! If you still aren't sure, plant half now and half later.