Q: I planted hollyhocks along a garden fence this summer and they are blooming beautifully. I want to save the seeds to plant new plants – what’s the best way to do this?
A: Collecting seeds is a fun and inexpensive way to grow fresh flowers. And with hollyhocks, it’s easy because the sturdy seed pods are easy to handle.
There are just a few things to consider, such as the right time to harvest and the right storage if you don’t want to sow straight away. The experts will explain below how you can master this worthwhile task for other cottage garden favorites.
Hollyhocks form tall flower clusters in many beautiful colors
(Image credit: Matt Perrin / Alamy Stock Photo)
How to save hollyhock seeds for sowing new plants
Resist the temptation to remove the spent flowers of these large flowering plants and they will boast generous seed production.
If left alone, these seeds will eventually fall off and self-seed. Collecting them instead lets you control where new plants appear – you might want to plant some along a wall in the front garden, for example.
When can you harvest hollyhock seeds?
Leave the flowers on your hollyhocks so that seed capsules can develop
(Image credit: Egasit_Mullakhut / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images)
Anna Ohler, owner of Bright Lane Gardens nursery, says: “After the flowers have faded, hollyhocks produce seed pods that are green at first and turn brown over time.”
“You should wait until the pods are completely dry and brown, which is usually in late summer to early fall,” she continues. “At this point, the seeds inside will be black or dark brown, which means they are ready to harvest.”
Seeds can also be collected from many other summer flowers at this time of year, such as coneflowers and marigolds.
Anna is an avid plant lover and the owner and operator of Bright Lane Gardens, a boutique nursery in Northern Michigan. With over a decade of experience in gardening and landscaping, she takes every opportunity to share her knowledge of all things plant-related. She also runs the company’s YouTube channel, which is full of practical advice.
How to harvest hollyhock seeds
In each seed capsule you will find a ring of round seeds
(Image credit: Izzzy71 / Alamy Stock Photo)
Meredith Bishop of Bloom & Bounty recommends cutting the seed pods off with garden shears and placing them in a brown paper bag, or removing them by hand. “As with all seeds, you should wait for a dry day to harvest, otherwise fungal infections can develop on the seeds,” she adds.
Brock Ingham of Bigger Garden recommends keeping the bag in a warm, dry place with good air circulation for about one to two weeks to allow the seeds to continue drying. “After that, gently break open the seed pods to release the seeds,” he continues. Remove the chaff and place them on a paper towel for a few more days to ensure they are completely dry before storing.
Meredith Bishop is a cut flower grower from Nashville, Tennessee. She runs a design studio called Bloom & Bounty with her organically grown flowers and writes, lectures, and leads gardening workshops of all kinds.
Brock is an experienced gardener who is training to be a horticultural expert. With over a decade of experience, he has developed a talent for growing a variety of unique and rare plants. He is also a strong advocate for farmers and knows that behind every crop there is a farmer with a story.
How should you store harvested hollyhock seeds?
(Image credit: Alamy/Li Ding)
Janice Cox, member of the National Garden Bureau and author of Natural beauty from the garden (of Ogden Publications) recommends packing the dried seeds in small paper envelopes or glass jars. “Be sure to label your jars and packages with any details you want to remember,” she adds. “I usually make note of color and flower shape.” Brock says, “Plastic bags are best avoided unless the seeds are absolutely dry, as plastic can trap moisture and lead to mold.”
These paper seed envelopes from Amazon should work well for this and you get 100 per pack.
Hollyhock seeds then need a chilling period, Meredith points out. Sowing hollyhock seeds in the fall allows them to chill naturally over the winter. However, if you want to store them, she recommends keeping them in a refrigerator or freezer.
Meredith also stresses that they should be kept dark and dry – the exact conditions seeds need to germinate. “For seeds that I store in the freezer, I add a desiccant to the envelope or bag to make sure that any moisture that escapes doesn’t get into the seeds,” she adds. We like the look of these well-reviewed silica gel packets from Amazon.
Top tip: Note that harvested seeds may not produce plants that are exactly identical to the parent plant, but different variations can be just as beautiful.
Brock says, “When stored properly, hollyhock seeds will remain viable for up to three years, but they are most reliable when used within a year or two.”
It’s worth noting that hollyhock seeds are biennial, meaning they’ll grow leaves the first year after sowing and flower the second year. For this reason, Janice recommends sowing the seeds every year. That way, you’ll always have a summer show.
Looking for more tips on collecting seeds of your favorite flowers? Our guides on storing hibiscus seeds and collecting lavender seeds are worth a look.
