Description of the best varieties of stock roses, planting, cultivation and care in open ground

The hollyhock is nothing more than a mallow. Previously, the flower was called this way, but with the advent of an abundance of varieties, from double to dwarf, breeders began to call it a rose stock. This majestic beauty, which can be seen in many areas, fits perfectly into any garden, looks great in different flower beds and as a single plant.

Description of the plant

Mallow or hollyhock is a biennial, less often an annual plant. Its botanical characteristics are as follows:

1. The stem is erect, lying. At the beginning of growth it has some pubescence, later, during flowering, it becomes naked. The small height of the plant is 30 cm, and the largest is 1.5 m.
2. The leaves are large, with a carved edge. The flowers are arranged symmetrically on a long stem.
3. The flowers are large, reaching from 15 to 20 cm in diameter. The end of the stem is an inflorescence, where several flowers are located in the axils of the leaves. The flowers have a simple structure, in the form of one row of petals, or a complex structure (double), when the petals are densely packed, which is why they resemble a rose.
4. Flowering is abundant, begins in July and lasts until the end of September.
5. After flowering, large flat bulbs or seed boxes appear.
6. The seeds are medium size, bean-shaped.
7. The powerful root system, which cannot be pulled out by hand, also attracts attention. It has one central root, especially thick, and many lateral ones. This structure is necessary to support a fairly large plant.

It is a common occurrence for mallow to bloom in the second year, but among the variety of varieties there are some that bloom in the first year. It is worth paying special attention to the color of the flowers. It would seem that there is no shade in which the hollyhock rose would not bloom. Starting from white to almost black. The most fashionable shades are purple, lilac, violet, yellow, and pure white.

A flower from the Malvaceae family is particularly resistant to cold and drought. Winters well at low temperatures, without requiring shelter. Easy to care for.It takes root on any soil, both in areas with abundant light and in the shade.

Types, varieties of stock roses

In its diversity, the stock rose has more than 70 species. Below are the most popular and in demand among gardeners.

Annual mallow

Annual flowering plant. The attainable height of the flower together with the inflorescence is from 30 to 80 cm and the diameter of the flower is up to 10 cm. Flowers can be single-row five-petaled or double. It is grown to decorate the garden in any flower beds and as a flowering hedge.

Royal hollyhock

A mysterious flower with different colors. Its flowers are simply unforgettable, densely packed with petals, with heavily cut edges. Plant height is 50 cm. Popular with gardeners, as it blooms in the year of sowing. Flowering is abundant, from June to autumn. When cut for bouquet arrangements, all available buds bloom.

Terry stock rose

A tall, profusely flowering plant up to 250 cm. The flowers are large, represented by corrugated petals collected in the center; the bottom of the flower is framed by single-row petals. Easily propagated by dividing the bush and using cuttings. It is also sown by seeds, but blooms in the second year of life.

Malva Margarita

Margarita grows up to 2 meters. Its inflorescences are abundantly surrounded by double flowers of lilac color. The diameter of each is up to 12 cm. Used to decorate gazebos and verandas. Most often it is planted in the background of flower beds with low-growing flowers.

Carnival

Less tall mallow variety Carnival. Its height can be up to 1.5 meters. The flowers are compact, fringed, yellow in color. The foliage of the mallow attracts the eye. The leaves are quite large, dark green in color, with a carved edge and dense pubescence. They are located on high petioles.Carnival is a biennial, sown using seeds, which is why it does not lose varietal characteristics.

Violet

The Violet variety is loved by gardeners because of its deep lilac color. The flowers are double, located in the axils of the leaves on a racemose inflorescence. In one inflorescence there are up to 7 flowers, which bloom very amicably. The process continues from July until the end of autumn, if the weather is sunny and warm outside. Plant height up to 2 meters.

Majorette

Low-growing mallow, the height of which reaches 80 cm. Large double flowers come in different colors: yellow, pink, dark burgundy. Flowering is consistent, from July almost to the end of October. The inflorescences look beautiful when cut.

Stock-rose Lyubava

A biennial, erect, profusely flowering plant, 80 cm high. Densely double flowers are collected in long inflorescences that bloom until autumn. Lyubava is beautiful framed by flower beds. Its rich red color attracts the eyes of outside gardeners.

Features of growing a plant

It is important to know that mallow seedlings are very fragile and can be easily damaged at the time of transplantation. To avoid this, you need to buy single-place peat pots that are buried in the soil along with the seedling.

When to plant

Planting seeds should begin in April-May. If you have a greenhouse, the deadline can be shifted by a month. If seeds are directly sown in open ground, then you should stick to the time when the ground has completely warmed up and severe night frosts have passed. The end of May is the best option.

If the seeds are planted in open ground, the rosehock will bloom only the next year.

How to prepare seeds

Growing from mallow seeds ensures early flowering and maximum germination.The best seeds are those collected from a two-year-old plant or purchased in a store. The preparatory stage consists of soaking the seeds.

To do this, they are poured into a small bowl and filled with warm water. Leave in this state for 12 hours. During this time, the achenes take on water and then quickly hatch.

How to sow seeds

The sowing algorithm is as follows:

1. Take separate pots or glasses, preferably peat ones. Pour soil into them; the most nutritious soil mixture, which includes peat, sand, soil, and sawdust, is suitable.
2. Place one seed in each cup. If containers or seedling boxes are taken for planting, then furrows are made into which the seeds are placed at a distance of 1-2 cm. Sprinkle a 1 cm thick layer of the remaining mixture on top.
3. Spill thoroughly and cover with a dark film or plastic cap.
4. Place in a warm place, but the temperature under the shelter should not exceed 20 degrees.

After about 14 days, shoots will appear, which need to be pulled through so that the plants are stronger and stronger. To do this, pull out weak sprouts, leaving a distance of 3 cm between adjacent ones.

After the emergence of shoots, you cannot remove the film immediately. This is done gradually, first for 10 minutes and so on until the plants get used to daylight.

During growth, seedlings should be regularly watered, hardened and ventilated. With the appearance of the third leaf, it is customary to place the seedlings in a cool place. If the sprouts begin to stretch, provide additional lighting. The next stage of growing seedlings is transplanting into open ground.

Important! Mallow does not like picks, so it should only be planted with an earthen clod.

Transplanting seedlings into open ground

In May they begin to plant plants in the flowerbed. The location of its growth is determined in advance, since it will not be possible to replant it later:

1. Choose a place that is bright and protected from strong winds. Due to the decent height of the plant, wind can negatively affect the beauty. The mallow will break off and bend.
2. The hollyhock does not tolerate shady places. Her growth will be inhibited and her flowers will turn pale.
3. The soil must be provided with humus and sand with large pebbles for drainage. In addition, lime should be added to the soil to reduce acidity, compost and sawdust. It is important to remember that the flower does not tolerate heavy clay soils.
4. The holes are being prepared. Their location depends on the space occupied in the flowerbed, but it is worth maintaining a distance between neighbors of 30 to 60 cm.
5. If seedlings grow in peat pots, they are simply buried in the garden bed along with the container. If the container or pot is plastic, then you should transfer the seedling along with the soil into the hole and dig it in.
6. Water the seedlings generously.

Mostly, seedlings are planted in the background of flower beds due to their height. The first plan is not suitable for mallow, as it will block other flowers.

Further care of flowers in the garden

Mallow is an unpretentious plant to care for, but abundant and colorful flowering depends on its quality.

Fertilizer and feeding

The rose holly is fed twice a season: after planting young seedlings and in August. Complex formulations of fertilizers for garden flowers, which can be purchased in the store, are suitable.

If the hollyhock is perennial, then humus or compost is added once a year, mainly in spring.

Watering rules

Mallow loves moisture, but excess depresses the flower.Water no more than once a week at the root, avoiding water getting on the leaves.

Diseases and pests of rose stock

Despite the growth of the plant and its unpretentiousness, mallow is susceptible to diseases: powdery mildew, rust, and nematode damage. Such phenomena occur due to excess humidity, damp and cold weather, as well as poor lighting.

Of course, it is impossible to prevent the occurrence of the disease, but it is possible to treat the flower beds. When the first signs of disease appear, the plant is fed with a solution of fungicides. During the period of rust infection from the mallow, it is necessary to tear off the affected leaves and treat with Bordeaux mixture.

If harmful inhabitants appear on the flowers, then the plant should be sprayed with an insecticide solution.

Application in landscape design

They decorate the garden with the help of mallow or hollyhocks. Looks harmonious in flower beds all summer long. In addition to exquisite flowers, the flowerbed is decorated with large foliage. Group plantings are used, in the form of walls or hedges, to divide the garden into zones.

Rows of mallow camouflage the outbuildings on the site very well. They can be planted under tall trees, together with other perennial plants, but slightly lower in height. You can play with shades of colors by planting annual flowers in the background. The main thing is imagination.

What is the difference between mallow and hollyhock?

Rose hollyhock and mallow are the same thing. Only the word malva is more familiar among the people. The rose stock belongs to the genus Malvaceae. There are perennial, biennial and annual subspecies.

Rose stock is an unpretentious, profusely flowering plant. Flowers can be observed from June to September. It is grown mainly by seeds for seedlings to ensure early flowering.After planting outdoors, minimal care is provided for the crop. To achieve colorful flowering, it is enough to choose the right place with good lighting, away from the prevailing winds. Then the flower beds will be fragrant with double and single-layer flowers of various colors.