
Caring for Hollyhock Plants
I started growing hollyhocks. They bloom beautifully for about 6 weeks. Now I’m curious how to care for these 8-foot tall plants. Do I cut back the stalks to ground level or leave them? Do they need regular watering or fertilizer?
Hollyhocks are biennials or short lived perennials. Allow the leaves to grow and store energy in the roots and produce seeds for next season. Wait for the seed pods to develop, dry, open and distribute the seeds before pruning. Prune the plants back once the tops turn brown. Remove the dried up stems back to the green rosette of leaves at the base of the plant. The biennials will die after flowering while the perennial types will return next year to flower again.
Related
Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars
May 3, 2025
Low-Maintenance Gardening
Merton, WI
Register here
May 7, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Vertical Gardening
Register here
May 10, 2025
Ask the Plant Doctor Q&A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 11, 2025
Ask the Plant Doctor Q&A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 15, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
7 Steps to Managing Water on Your Property
Register here
May 17, 2025
Ask the Plant Doctor Q&A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 18, 2025
Ask the Plant Doctor Q&A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
June 4, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Attracting Hummingbirds
Register here
June 8, 2025
Selecting the Right Hydrangea
for Your Landscape
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
June 14, 2025
Houseplants 101
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
June 20, 2025 (event 6/20-6/22)
Pollinator Celebration
Vino in the Valley
Maiden Rock, WI
Register here
WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS
Learn More