table of contents
- Hollyhocks: lifespan
- Educate for several years
- Winter hardiness of hollyhocks
- frequently asked Questions
Hollyhocks are one of the most popular ornamental plants, and for many gardeners it is a sad sight when they perish. The question that often arises is how old hollyhocks can get.
In a nutshell
- Hollyhocks are biennial plants
- Flowering and seed ripening only in the 2nd year
- die after the seeds ripen
- The service life can be increased by cutting measures
- they are hardy
Hollyhocks: lifespan
The hollyhock or peasant rose (Alcea rosea) is the most common species of the genus that is kept as an ornamental plant in German-speaking countries.
- biennial plant
- only bears flowers in the second year
After two years you will need to sow new specimens to continue enjoying them. The reason for this is the maturity of the seeds. If seeds are formed after flowering, the hollyhock has served its purpose and dies completely. But that need not be. With the right measures, she can be raised easily and permanently for several years.
Educate for several years
In itself it is not difficult to raise a classic hollyhock for more than two years. If the wintering is right, you only have to prevent the plant from ripening the seeds. This means that you need to cut the flowers at the right time so that no seeds can be formed. For this, cut off the pretty flowers as soon as they have withered and drooped. You can even cut back the plant completely if you want, as it will die over the winter anyway. In this way, you save yourself a step before winter and you can look forward to more flowers in the years to come.
Note: Pay attention to the hollyhock throughout the entire cultivation process Mallow rustso that the vitality of the plant does not suffer from the fungal disease. To do this, remove permanently infested leaves, apply a fungicide as needed and plant the plants as airy as possible.
Winter hardiness of hollyhocks
Are you wondering whether the hollyhock is hardy? Yes, hollyhocks are plants that can get through the winter without any problems. After flowering, the above-ground parts of the plant die off completely in autumn and only the root ball, which consists of a deep taproot, survives. If you live in a mild region, you can send the mallows into the cold season without any winter protection. However, if you are very cold, the following measures are recommended:
- cut back completely
- Cover the root ball
- Use brushwood or dry leaves
- distribute generously
Note: If you keep the hollyhocks in the tub, the tubs are overwintered in frost-free greenhouses, garages or cellars at 8 ° C to 13 ° C. Winter protection is not necessary, they should only be watered carefully every 14 days.
frequently asked Questions
The classic garden hollyhock probably comes from the perennial pale poplar rose (Alcea biennis), which is not native to Germany and is only very rarely found. Instead, rely on the so-called bastard mallow (Alcalthaea), a cross between hollyhock and common marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), which are persistent. The most popular varieties include 'Parkrondell', 'Parkallee' and 'Parkfrieden', which are well suited for perennial cultivation.
If you want to save yourself the pruning before the seeds ripen and have planted the plants outdoors, with a lot of luck a new generation of hollyhocks will grow in the following year. Since the roses sow themselves on their own, it is not uncommon for new specimens to grow near the mother plant. But there is no guarantee for this. Self-sowing can also be recognized by the flower colors that do not match the mother plant.
Yes, if you don't let the flowers wither completely, you can make them as tea. To preserve the taste and ingredients, you should put it on cold and let it steep for several hours. The tea works well against throat irritation and an inflamed throat.