Packaged roots? Are these really Alcea rosea? Or something more perennial instead, like Sidalcea malviflora?

Embotarían, These are from Walmart, and the package says “roots” - and the photos match others I’ve seen of hollyhocks, (but I’ve learned that labels can’t always be trusted).

Loretta, do you think they won’t be pretty enough to plant along the front fence?

I finally got my husband to really remove the English ivy growing there and it’s so bare that it’s the first place I want to plant. But my house is on a busy main street and in my fantasy, I’ll plant something beautiful and easy - the area gets full hot sun in summer and between the heat and the onlookers, it’s not a spot I want to spend too much time tending to. I was also imagining the hollyhocks would be a good background as I expand the front garden and slowly plant over the grass that’s there.

Knock out roses are my second choice (but a bigger $$$ investment). Or elephant ears? I know I’m all over the place but it’s a blank slate right now and there are so many choices!

They can look great along a fence but it isn't like an annual that will look peak all summer. You'll need something else to take over. I don't know what you garden looks like or how big the bed is. They aren't long lived so it isn't a lifetime choice, three years maybe so enjoy them while they last. You can collect seeds and grow more if you like them. Use a fungicide if the rust shows. You will know what that is- rusty raised spots. I would pot them up and put them out as soon as it stays above freezing.

Thanks again for the advice. It sounds like they might work better in the back of the house where I won’t be self-conscious if there’s rust on the leaves. Onto plan B . . .

The front is about 60 feet of 4-foot picket fence. The previous owners of the house let English ivy take over, and they created a bed right at the house, the kind of bed with a row of easy low shrubs, and one Azalea, but I’ve been working on that bed for the last two years that I’ve owned the home. Now that half the ivy is gone, it’s my turn to dream up a beautiful front garden. I want to eventually get rid of most of the stretch of grass between the low fence and the home.

Sounds exciting! My house also came with a lot of ivy but I was able to get it out using a pick axe. The soil here is sandy so it wasn't too bad of a job plus I was younger.