Hollyhock mallow

Hollyhock mallow: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Upright perennial 0.8–1.2 m tall and 50–60 cm wide, with several stems from one clump.

Leaves

Rounded with shallow lobes at the base, deeply cut into five parts on the stem; softly hairy, mid green.

Flower

Pink, saucer-shaped flowers 3–5 cm across with five deeply notched petals, in the leaf axils, from June to September.

Fruit

Flat, round fruits, the ‘cheeses’, that look like small cheeses.

Roots

A sturdy taproot: it tolerates drought, but is hard to move.

Flowering: June–September · Sowing: March–May · Plants: April–May and September–October · Pruning: March and May

Why grow it?

• Flowers for a long time, from June to September, with hundreds of pink saucer flowers.
• A native plant that offers bees and other insects plenty of nectar.
• Drought tolerant and undemanding: suits a sunny, dry spot.
• A sturdy, tall plant for the middle or back of a wild or cottage-style border.
• Low maintenance: one cutting back a year is enough.

Hollyhock mallow: where does it grow best?

• Full sun for the richest flowering and the sturdiest growth.
• Free-draining, chalky to neutral soil: sand, loam or clay, preferably on the lean side.
• Dry to normally moist: it copes poorly with wet feet in winter.
• Plant 50–60 cm apart; it needs plenty of room.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Neutral or chalky

Moisture

Dry or normal

Size

1 m tall, 0.6 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -30 °C)

Goes well with

• Steppe sage: Violet spikes beside the pink saucers, in the same dry sun.
• Yarrow: White or yellow flat heads as a contrast in a wild border.
• Catmint: A low, blue cloud of flowers at the base.
• Ornamental grasses: Fine stems that frame the pink flowers softly.

Hollyhock mallow: when and how to plant it?

Plant in April–May and September–October.

1. Plant in April–May or September–October, when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged.
2. Dig a hole at least twice as wide as the root ball; the taproot must be able to stand straight.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot and firm the soil.
4. Keep 50–60 cm between plants.
5. Water thoroughly straight away.

Care

Water

In the first year, water weekly in dry weather. After that it looks after itself.

Feeding

Not needed: in rich soil it becomes too tall, floppy and falls over.

Support

Usually not needed in sun. In wind or rich soil, a low support or cutting back in May helps.

Deadheading

Remove faded flowers regularly to prolong flowering, but leave a few if you want seed.

Self-seeding

It seeds itself readily. Move young seedlings in spring or pull them out.

Tip: Shorten the stems by a third in May: the plant stays lower, sturdier and flowers more richly. If rust appears, remove affected leaves at once.

Hollyhock mallow: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March and May.

When: In March cut away the old stems; in May you can shorten the stems for a lower, sturdier plant.

How:

• In March, cut all of last year’s dead stems down to just above the ground.
• In May, shorten the stems by a third if you want a sturdier, lower plant; it will then flower a little later.
• Remove faded flowers regularly to prolong flowering.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

Sow in March–April indoors or in April–May outdoors, 0.5–1 cm deep. The hard seed coat germinates better after soaking overnight in lukewarm water.

Basal cuttings

In spring, take 5–8 cm cuttings from new shoots at the base and root them in sandy compost. The taproot makes division difficult.

Hollyhock mallow: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −30 °C.

• Fully hardy to about −30 °C: no protection is needed in Belgium.
• The top growth dies back in winter; the plant shoots again in spring.
• In a pot: keep the pot sheltered from rain so the roots do not rot.

Diseases and pests

• Mallow rust: Yellow spots on the leaves with orange-brown pustules underneath. Remove affected leaves, avoid wetting the foliage and clear fallen leaves in autumn.
• Falling over: In rich soil or partial shade it grows tall and floppy. Plant it in more sun or cut it back in May.
• Slugs: They strip young shoots and seedlings in spring. Collect them in the evening or set up a barrier.
• Aphids: On young shoots. Rinse off with water or let ladybirds clear them.

Through the year

• March: Cut dead stems back. Sow indoors.
• April: Sow and plant.
• May: Shorten the stems if needed. Plant or sow.
• June: Flowering begins.
• July: Full flower. Remove faded flowers.
• August: Flowering. Watch for rust.
• September: Last flowers. Plant.
• October: Plant. Clear fallen leaves.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• The Dutch name ‘vijfdelig’ (five-parted) refers to the stem leaves, which are deeply cut into five parts.
• The round, flat fruits look like small cheeses, which is why the mallows are called ‘kaasjeskruid’ (little-cheese herb) in Dutch.
• It belongs to the mallow family (Malvaceae), like hibiscus, hollyhock and the cotton plant.