Add Privacy To Your Yard With A Dreamy Tall Flower That's Easy To Grow

There are lots of ways you can add privacy to your yard, from decorative fencing to planting dense hedges. But have you ever thought about planting tall-growing flowers instead? While they will provide some much-needed seclusion, you can also enjoy their colorful blooms, which will attract those coveted pollinators we all need in our yards. One such easy-to-grow, dreamy flower is the hollyhock (Alcea rosea), which can reach a massive height of 8 feet. You won't have to look at your neighbor's unsightly fence if you decide to plant these, and you'll find that even hummingbirds adore this sun-loving plant.

Hollyhocks are technically regarded as short-lived perennials, but depending on where you live, they can be grown as annuals or biennials. Generally, they'll start blooming only in their second year when grown from seed. However, you can speed up the flowering process by starting seeds indoors in winter, around February, especially if you garden in a region that experiences mild winters. Hollyhocks can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 10 and will prefer a sunny or partly shaded spot in your yard as long as the soil is kept moist and offers good drainage. 

What you'll find quite stunning are the gorgeous flowers that start opening from the bottom of the tall stems and are somewhat similar to hibiscus blooms. Hollyhocks come in a wide variety of colors, including red, pink, white, yellow, purple, and orange. There's even a stunning black flower variety you can grow from seed for a truly dramatic garden.

If you want to enjoy these magnificent blooms in summer, you'll need to sow your seeds indoors around six to eight weeks before the last frost date. It's best to use either peat pots or handmade cardboard ones, which you can plant straight out into the garden without disturbing the roots. The seeds do need light to germinate, so don't cover them. They should sprout in about 10 to 14 days. While you're waiting, prepare your garden bed by adding plenty of organic matter, which these plants love.

When they're ready to be transplanted into the garden, space them around 18 to 36 inches apart to ensure good airflow between the plants. This is important because hollyhocks are susceptible to rust diseases, and adequate air circulation should limit infection. It's also a good idea to avoid wetting the leaves when watering.  Adding a decent layer of mulch around the base of the plants should help to prevent any fungal spores from splashing up onto the foliage as well. Plus, you'll want to protect these majestic plants from damaging winds so the flower stems don't fall over. Alternatively, staking the stems might be needed to keep them upright. 

The best part of growing hollyhocks for privacy is that they self-seed readily, so once they're in your garden, you'll be able to enjoy them for years to come. That is, of course, if you follow the ultimate guide to deadheading hollyhocks in the garden, but leave the second flush of blooms to go to seed.