Will Baby Hollyhocks Survive Winter?

8 years ago

After spending forever trying to find hollyhock seeds locally, I finally got some planted, sprouted, and in the ground several weeks ago, since the packages and Google insist hollyhocks can be planted in the fall. The seedlings are so small, though! The fall chill has officially arrived here (central Iowa) - the past week has been cold and rainy, and I don't know how much longer we have before frost arrives. How big do hollyhocks generally have to get the first year to come back (I know they don't bloom the first year)? They're turning into my white whale - I love them more than any other flowers and planted 3 rounds of seeds this summer before finally getting some sprouts. They are proving so difficult to actually get!

Featured Answer

NHBabs z4b-5a NH

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I have had tiny ones overwinter without problem, so I imagine that it wouldn't be an issue for you, though since I don't know march of anything about your zone or soils or how much snow cover you usually get, I can't be sure. I have acid, well-drained soil and good snow cover.

if you have some seed left, plant them in the spring to hedge your bets.

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Comments (12)

mnwsgal
8 years ago
I have overwintered very tiny hollyhocks in MN so expect that they should do okay in Iowa. You may want to add mulch after the ground is frozen in case you don't get much snow as we are expecting a warm winter. Hollyhocks sometimes self seed and even those have survived with no care given.
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flowergirl70ks
8 years ago
In my yard they're like cockroaches, i think they will still be here by the end of time.
hydrangeahead Central WI 4b
8 years ago
Flowergirl, I'm so jealous! I can't get Hollyhocks to grow anywhere... I've tried buying the seedlings, planting from seed, you name it. Right now I have a few planted in my yard under open-topped milk jugs to protect them from the squirrels and rabbits. I'm not really holding out any hope for them, though. In twenty years, I've never seen a hollyhock bloom in this yard...
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years ago
A ring of chicken wire a couple of feet high may help with the squirrel and rabbit issue when they start shooting up. Shake a few red pepper flakes on for good measure.
Faith
8 years ago
Did they live?!? Inquiring minds want to know!!!
hydrangeahead Central WI 4b
8 years ago
I would like to know as well...
hydrangeahead Central WI 4b
7 years ago
Just an update... Put the garden to bed with twelve baby hollyhocks last fall... None to wake up this spring so far :(
Faith
7 years ago
HydrangeaHead, how disappointing! I guess they really don’t like your garden, huh? I’m a bit ahead of you, zone-wise, but my hollyhocks are happily putting out leaves. Such a bummer!
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
7 years ago
They self sow on my allotment and the plants are evergreen. Do they normally disappear completely in your zone?
Heidi Standell
2 years ago
I live in Calgary Alberta Canada, zone 4a. I've had no luck with hollyhocks, though I have a pine tree in the yard and many around the area. My neice has some goregous hollyhocks so I harvested seeds from her, Planted them in September, we're having a late start to winter but since late October I noticed seedlings and now they're about 10 cm tall, and green too! Covered them with last year's dead folliage etc. Anyone know if...well,if I'm doing the right thing for this area? I have seen a lot of hollyhocks around, but some people say it's better here to use bulbs....
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
2 years ago
Hollyhocks don't have bulbs. You can sow seed or plant plants. Pine trees are neither here nor there as far as the Hollyhocks are concerned. They are very hardy and if you see them growing around your area I imagine yours will be fine. Mulching probably won't hurt as long as there is reasonable drainage and they're not sitting in a heap of soggy leaves all winter.