I'm not sure what "French" Hollyhocks are but with the big old fashioned ones, I cut them back to about 12" from the ground and lay the stocks on the ground near them. When the seeds dry out I crush the pods and sprinkle them around though Mother Nature will take care of that eventually if I don't get to it. You should get some new basal leaves popping up around the base of the old stock and it will grow some this summer, next year those will grow and become your new flowers, then they will be done. You'll have to plant or scatter some of the seeds each year to keep a progression of them going since they only last two years. Next years flowers will be longer lasting and much fuller than they were this year.

If you know or can figure it out, you gotta give us the latin name. Not to be picky, but common names are as common as grass and often vary.
Thanks,
idabean

Hmmm. Interesting. These are different than the tall ones but I bet the same principal applies. They r so ugly now, I think I'll try that, and just set aside the cutoff part to seed. Thanks !!

, French Hollyhock 'Zebrina' (Malva sylvestris)

Malva is a perennial, different from true hollyhocks which are biennials and so have to have the seeds planted to continue in the garden over time. Zebrina is one plant that you probably don't want to leave all the cut stems to drop seed. It has a reputation for seeding extremely prolifically to the point of being a pest in some areas, so maybe set out a few for seed in case the original plant doesn't survive, but you may not want to let all of them loose on your garden.