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Sun, Mar 29, 09 at 11:01
| Using a designer's plan, I planted several black hollyhocks at the back of the bed along my back porch. I loved the "in your face" look of them, especially next to the hot pink hibiscus. But, rust made for really ugly foliage that couldn't be hiddne. So I moved them to the rear of the yard along a fence. Question: any ideas for a substitute along the back porch that gets full sun from about 11 am to sunset? I want something large and lush, something that works with the hot pink hibiscus. |
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| A clematis on a trellis, maybe. You can choose a type that will bloom at the same time as your hibiscus, and there's quite a range of reds and pinks, though I can't think of one quite as dark as black hollyhocks. A good clematis resource, beside the clematis forum here on GW is "Clematis on the Web," which is easily found with a google search. There are some native honeysuckle vines (Lonicera sempervirens) that are quite striking while blooming in June? (red, pink, yellow range) and have round, slightly bluish leaves when they are not. Scarlet runner beans are an annual with slightly orange-red flowers - not sure if they would go with the pink, but I love how they draw hummingbirds and the small greenbeans and the dried seed beans are edible. Some of the taller & larger bulbs, like Allium Globemaster or giganteum, or one of the hardier Eremurus (which isn't really a bulb, more of a tangled mass of fleshy roots) might work earlier in the season to go with the later blooming annual beans or other annual vines. They both bloom late spring and have tall flower stalks with a large head of small florets (round for Allium and wand shaped for Eremurus.) You can get them from good bulb houses like Brent and Becky's or John Scheepers. I'll think some more and see what else, if anything, occurs to me. (My black hollyhocks were decimated by rust last year as well. One of my spring chores is to find out if there's anything I can do to help or prevent it other than plant a resistant variety or another kind of plant.) |
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| Try the following for hollyhock rust. Toss a heavy dose of regular grocery store purchased cornmeal on and around the plants just as the new spring foliage is emerging. Then dampen the cornmeal with a spritz of water. Repeat cornmeal treatment every two weeks. The cornmeal may turn an ucky black color. Don't panic, just keep treating. |
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| Thanks, Nandina! I appreciate the suggestion as I live in an old farmhouse, and hollyhocks are such a perfect flower for an area near the front door. |
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| Oh, I had pretty much crossed hollyhocks off my list because of rust. I will try the cornmeal thing. :-) If you want a clematis or another vine, try Brushwood Nursery. Beautiful plants, exceptional packing. I have been really happy with everything from them. |
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