Over the last several years, as I've seen Hollyhocks growing up in the lawn, I have routinely moved them to the perimeters of my back yard - Along the back of the house and the front of the garage. I don't know very much about them, but I know they can't be killed and they continue to bloom when everything else in the yard has stopped. My question is: Does a plant have the same color blooms each year or do they change. I know I have had flowers that were either yellow or very yellow-y tinted in the past. This year everyone is a shade of pink. Either the yellow plants have died (and I did not think that happened) or the flowers have changed colors.





Any one have an answer? GrannyH

Hollyhocks self-seed and the new plants are new genetic mixes. The baby plants are probably hidden under the adults, and then they all die down during the winter with the youngsters coming up again next year. Further south the old plants may come back again, but up north they don't usually last more than 2 years.
The only plants I know of that change colors are hydrangea; their flowers are deep blue in acid soil and get pinker the more alkaline the soil gets.

I was sure, Claybird, that you would have the answer. I do have to say I'm very disappointed. I have rarely seen yellow hollyhocks - and I was hoping for a whole mass of them this year. According to what you've said, since I don't have yellow this year to go to seed, I won't have them next year either.

Thanks for the info. GrannyH