Hey guys. So I gathered some seeds last summer from a family members' hollyhocks and I planted them earlier this spring.

The seedlings are doing well but I read that hollyhocks don't bloom their first year. I might be moving and don't want to plant the seedlings in the ground never to see them flower. Can I plant them in pots? What size if so? Thanks!

Annie ,

mine that grow on their own outside take a year or two to get big , so I would say you could most likely be able to move them in next size up pot as needed when they start out growing the pots they are in.

I went back and looked at a few photos of mine from last year , and would say it might be best to put them in the ground before this winter if you can. Mine really seemed to take off on their 2nd year , as soon as it started warming up.

I also transplanted one this year that was growing in the lawn , broke the tap root and all and it is still doing well in the flower bed lost a few outer leaves but kept growing new growth with only one or two good watering after transplanting.

Hollyhocks are biennial but they are such prolific reseeders that it seems they never go away. Put them in pots and plant them in your new destination. You will have flowers the first year from your potted plants which will reseed to produce flowers two years from now.

Plant some seedlings in the first year in your new home so you will have hollyhocks every year. Your potted plants will bloom in year 1, your seedlings in year 2. Then the seedlings from year 1 will bloom in year 3 and the seeds from the seedlings you planted in year 2 will bloom in year 4. And so on. Isn't this fun?

Thanks! Sounds like hollyhocks are semi invasive but they are beatiful so I won't mind if they reseed in my yard. Glad to know they take off the second year, I will try to get them in the ground.

When they reseed where you don't want them, just dig up the young plant. I have had holly hocks for years by letting some of them reseed, others I remove the seed pods before they open to keep them under control.

This thread has made me remember how much I loved the hollyhocks I grew back in the 60's! Now I need to get some going in my yards here in AZ and NM. I was browsing the database and see there are a lot of beautiful colors now available. They're so pretty, invasive would be ok with me!