Planting

• In USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 4 to 8, start hollyhock mallow from seed or plant nursery plants in spring after the last frost, or in the fall. M. alcea grows best in poor soil in full sun, or where it receives morning sun and is sheltered from strong wind. New plants need even moisture; water plants until they're established.
  
  

Growing

• Hollyhock mallow planted in rich garden loam needs staking to keep it upright. Hollyhock mallows provide profuse pink blooms from June to September. Remove spent flower heads to keep clumps tidy. Water plants deeply during extreme drought when branches begin to wilt. Fastigiata is moderately drought-tolerant and a good choice for sunny xeriscapes.
  
  

Maintenance

• Hollyhock mallow is a short-lived perennial but reseeds freely. Allow a few seedlings to grow each spring, because clumps cannot be successfully divided. Prune plants in fall to the basal foliage; prune flowering branches in spring for shorter clumps.