I need photos to help identify plants?

Its early spring and I have plants coming up that I am not sure what they are. Is there any place that shows photos of plants at their earliest "two-leaf" stage? In particular: viola, zinnea, larkspur, lupin, hollyhock, columbine. I am a new gardener and can hardly tell a weed from a flower at such an early stage. I usually have to wait until they are about 8 to 12 inches high before I know which is which.

I need photos to help identify plants?
its usually only something you can learn from experience... the seed leaves(cotyledons) look NOTHING like the true leaves (next leaves to come up) after the true leaves come up its a lot easier...but still can be difficult for some... pictures do help since a lot of plants are hard to describe...





here is one site that looks confusing but provides some pictures on weeds...it might help you rule some out...


and the other site has some herbaceous plants that might help you a little... good luck... and happy hunting...
Reply:http://web1.msue.msu.edu/msue/iac/e1363/...


This has loads of information on identifying weed seedlings as opposed to the plant seedlings.

Does anyone know if it is legal to ship flower seeds from the US to Canada?

I sell seeds on Ebay but normally will only ship to the US states. However, someone from Canada bid on %26amp; won an auction for Hollyhock seeds, even though I state that in my listings.

Does anyone know if it is legal to ship flower seeds from the US to Canada?
First off, check to see if the high bidders shipping address is the same. Many times they will buy and then the "ship to" address is different. They may be buying them for a relative in Tucumcari New Mexico and they themselves live in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan. See what I mean? Look at their shipping confirmation to see if this is so. If not, I would suggest you contact the Canadian Dept Of Agriculture at the below link and find out if it is ok to ship hollyhock seeds into their country. Most of the time they are only worried about food crops, but you never know, hollyhock could be classified as a noxious weed in Canada for all we know. If you are not allowed to ship, I would contact Ebay and tell them your situation. Good luck...


http://www.agr.gc.ca/index_e.php?s1=help...





...$Billy Ray$
Reply:I would suggest you consult the shipping specialists, for example--http://www.wwcf.com.au/company.html?gcli...


P.S. The customer pays for shipping, local taxes, etc.


Good luck!
Reply:Some seeds may require a phyto certificate. Check with Canada customs website. You should have no problem sending them but your customer may have trouble getting them through customs.





Dealt with customs on both sides for years, send me an email if you need further assistance.
Reply:Y would it be? Go for it!

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How can I get what look to be dead, Magnolias to start growing again?

My MIL has a small garden of what I was told were Magnolias. It just look like a bunch of weed stems to me. They look dead, and nothing is blooming or budding. I want to plant some Hollyhock and some other flowers there, but will the Magnolias ever come back or should I just dig them up and compost them?

How can I get what look to be dead, Magnolias to start growing again?
Any Magnolia I know of has woody stems and come into bud in Spring. It does sound as if these are dead....but to be sure, dig carefully aound the roots and see what they look like. If they are dead they will come up out of the ground very easily when you pull them. If they have some life they will be more resistant and look lighter in colour. If you think there is life there, cut the stems above ground down to where they are no longer brittle and wait for a few weeks.


Start your hollyhocks off in pots and keep them watered. They can go in if you find there is no life in the magnolias.


There's no need to keep the magnolias there if you don't want them there.....dig them up!
Reply:dig them up and compost them.when planting your other flowers don't forget to add fertilizer to them they will grow much hardier and stronger.

If you plant flowers to attract hummingbirds, what kind do you plant and how soon do you plant them?

I have wisteria blue, gladiolus, astilbe, phlox, lilly of the valley, bleeding heart, hollyhock, red hot poker, lupine, canterbury bells, columbine, larkspur and snapdragon.

If you plant flowers to attract hummingbirds, what kind do you plant and how soon do you plant them?
Good choices. They like bright flowers... especially red, ...but they also like purple, white, orange, pink and blue. They like flowers with trumpet, tubular shapes.


http://birding.about.com/cs/birdshumming...





These are the 10 flowers most used to attract hummingbirds:


Bee Balm


Red Columbine


Delphinium and Hollyhock


Butterfly Bush


Catawba Rhododendron


Rose of Sharon


Trumpet Vine and Trumpet Honeysuckle


Cardinal Vine


Lantana and Fuchsia


Silk Tree


http://landscaping.about.com/cs/forthebi...





Here's a whole page of the hummingbirds favorite flowers, shrubs %26amp; trees, vines %26amp; bulbs; Hummingbirds are attracted to flower colors and nectar, not fragrance:


http://www.thegardenhelper.com/hummingbi...





Aside from the colorful nectar filled flowers, make certain that there is always fresh water available for drinking as well as for bathing. They need sunnny areas and they especially need shady areas to perch as well as to build their nests.


Willows and Eucalyptus trees provide nesting materials along with bits of leaves, spider webs, moss, and lichens to build their tiny nests.





Good Luck! Hope this helps.
Reply:Rose of Sharon is also an excellent choice.
Reply:Red Beebalm is what the hummingbirds really go for in my flower bed. I get some really great viewing as they will feed for a long time. These are by far their favourites and I have many of the same plants you do.


I'm in western Canada and I never plant anything until the end of May or beginning of June when the likelihood of snow is gone. We'd had snow in May and June before and I've lost some plants that way. I sometimes start plants from seeds and usually do that sometime in April indoors and then transplant later.
Reply:I plant salvia, red salvia, they love it, also honney suckle
Reply:Harold the humming birds are attracted to my Night Blooming Jasmine!! I was amazed to see the dozens and dozens of them surrounding the plant. I took a branch from the plant with several flowers on it, held it out to them, and they came right up to it in my hand. it was so great to see. Take care- Jen
Reply:The hummingbirds go crazy for the monarda in my garden but i agree with the other answers that red flowers of most kind of flowers draw them but i also think a feeder helps keep them around also. Hope this helps.
Reply:hummingbirds like bright pink or red flowers. just plant something big and pink. :]
Reply:http://buffy6900.tripod.com/id8.html


this is at my webby





if you peruse any further I have good info some just needs to be brought up to date.

Every year a fungus of some kind kills my hollyhocks, gourds and pumpkin plants. What's causing this?

All are located in my fenced in backyard and last year the same fungus infected my large lilac bush in the front yard. HELP!

Every year a fungus of some kind kills my hollyhocks, gourds and pumpkin plants. What's causing this?
HI, All the plants that you named are really susceptible to several fungus. There is powder mildew, Grey mold, downy mildew etc.


If you use sulfur early on in the growing season and about 1/2 way through the season it will help cut down on all the different types of fungus.


There are other important steps to take also:


CLEAN all infected leaves during the growing season.


cut them off and trash bag them. Never put them into your compost pile.


Water early as possible in the day and if poss able DO NOT let the water hit the leaves. Try a soaker hose.


For the lilac out front usually they only get powdery mildew, you can take one of the fertilizer spray bottles that attach to the end of you garden hose. Fill it with a 50%backing soda50% water mix and spray the lilac. Baking soda does a great job knocking down powdery mildew!

How do you grow flowers from cuttings?

I received some hollyhock cuttings and would like to know if I can grow some of my own hollyhocks from the cuttings?

How do you grow flowers from cuttings?
You really would be better getting some seeds and sewing them in the spring.





If you wish you can root them. Get some hormone powder such as "Rootone". Cut off the end so it is fresh %26amp; dip in the rooting hormone. Put in wet soil %26amp; keep moist. When you see new top growth your cutting has rooted.





Hollyhocks are preannual so once you get them going they will come back every year.
Reply:im not real sure, but u can try to put them in some water to see if they give u a root. if not, try just planting the stem of one in a pot and maybe it will root that way.





good luck.
Reply:I don't know. Hollyhocks are self-sowers. They make seeds right under where the blossoms are (a round, flat, rosette package about the size of a quarter) when they are left to grow and wane outside. Maybe you could get some seeds later on from the person who gave you the cuttings. Or in the olden days, people would visit each other's gardens and exchange plants. Maybe whoever gave you the cuttings would be willing to split and share the plants. Good luck.

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Do you prune hollyhocks and if so when? What about a Poppy plant?

Two years ago I planted hollyhocks. In the fall of last year, I cut down the stalk and this year the stalk has grown and we've had beautiful flowers. Should I do the same?


Re: the Poppies. I only get one Poppy per year. Do these plants multiply? Does it have to be pruned?

Do you prune hollyhocks and if so when? What about a Poppy plant?
Hollyhocks are biennials. They are not a bulb. To insure that your hollyhocks keep coming back, you must let them go to seed each year. Once they've shed seed you can cut them back, as their life is over.





Poppies are perennials. The clump gets bigger every year and after, say, 5 years it should be lifted and divided. There are 2 arguments about pruning. You can cut the dead foliage to the ground in the fall or spring...some prefer spring because the old dried stems help to hold a snow cover, which is good insulation for the roots.
Reply:You can cut off the stalk after it has died in fall. Most bulbs need to go through a cycle and be allowed to die back completely in order to feed the bulb. Hollyhocks will grow back stronger each year.
Reply:You've done well to cut the hollyhocks in the Fall. Even if you don't they will re appear and can be invasive , but their beauty makes up for it .


Re Poppies ....cut back the spent and by now dried stem(s) all the way down to within 3 inches above ground .... YES they will multiply if you do this pruning .


Good Luck !! my poppies have been gorgeous this year !!!

What are these spots on my hollyhocks?

My hollyhocks have dozens (maybe hundreds) of tiny orange/bronze colored spots/dots on the top of the leaves. The underside has little "bubbles" or raised area under each spot that's on the top. Is that clear as mud?

What are these spots on my hollyhocks?
It's a fungus called (oddly enough) "rust". The only way to deal with it is to cut off the leaves that have it and burn them. If you hit it with water, it will release the spores and cause even more damage.
Reply:they are called rust spots you need to treat it with a special fungicide solution that you should be able to pick up in a garden centre ...
Reply:dying
Reply:Parasites or bugs i think. look at this article





Galls:





Galls are abnormal plant growths caused by various organisms (insects, mites, nematodes, fungi, bacteria, and viruses). Because of their unusual forms and colors, galls often cause homeowners to become concerned. However, galls seldom threaten plant health and their numbers are highly variable from season to season. For those reasons, control is generally not suggested.





Galls are formed by insect/mite feeding or egg-laying activity. Either mechanical damage or salivary secretions (introduced by insects and/or mites) initiate increased production of normal plant growth hormones. These plant hormones cause localized plant growth that can result in increases in cell size and/or cell number. The outcome is an abnormal plant structure called a gall.





Gall formation generally occurs during the accelerated growth period (late spring) of new leaves, shoots, flowers, etc. Mature plant tissues are usually unaffected by gall-inducing organisms. The gall-making organism develops inside the gall and the gall continues to grow as the insect/mite feeds and matures. Once gall formation is initiated, many galls will continue to form even if the insect dies. In addition, most galls are usually not noticed until they are fully formed and remain on plants for extended periods of time. During heavy infestations of leaf galls, leaves may drop prematurely from the tree. Most galls do not adversely affect plant health. Therefore, management is generally not suggested to protect plant vitality. Chemical applications are often ineffective since the precise timing of sprays is critical. To be effective, sprays must be timed to coincide with initial insect/mite activity before gall formation begins. Once galls start to form, they conceal the causal organism and it is too late for treatment.











I think this is what is on your plants.

How do I rid hollyhocks of rust on leaves?

My hollyhocks seem to get rusty leaves alot. Can I prevent this? How do I rid of the rust?

How do I rid hollyhocks of rust on leaves?
Go to a garden center and purchase an anti-fungal solution.

What was the insperation for the painting Rams head, white hollyhock, little hills by gerogia o keeffe?

what inspired her to paint Ram's Head, White Hollyhocks, and little hills.

What was the insperation for the painting Rams head, white hollyhock, little hills by gerogia o keeffe?
"The oriental mysticism of Dow's theories of composition had a deep influence on O'Keeffe. She developed a distinctive form of landscape abstraction over the next four years while teaching in Western Texas"





...or female genatalia.
Reply:most of her paintings were inspired by female body parts, whose symbolic representations she found in nature.

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How long before hollyhocks bloom?

I have a bareroot hollyhock plant. Can I start it in the house in a container, then replant it outside and how soon will it bloom?

How long before hollyhocks bloom?
From seed to bloom - - two years.
Reply:an established hollyhock usually blooms here in June.. not sure a bareroot will bloom this year at all.. good luck.
Reply:My hollyhocks bloomed the first year, even though they are biennials they drop enough seeds that I have them every year. I have never been successful with starting them in a container, but if you do be sure to run your hand across the plants to toughen them up prior to transplanting outside. I have great luck just planting seeds.

What causes hollyhock blooms to fall off after 2 or 3 days?

It is probably your cultivar. MIne last about a week to 10 days.They do like wet feet and fertilizer though, so keep them moist and fed :)

What causes hollyhock blooms to fall off after 2 or 3 days?
That is simply the length of time the blossoms last. Hollyhocks are beautiful and I certainly wish their displays would last longer!!

Why are leaves on my hollyhock turning pale green?

Hollyhocks are very prone tp becoming chlorotic. That is basically when they don't have enough nitrogen and they start to turn lime green. If you leave them like that long enough they will turn yellow, but otherwise look fine. Usually your best bet is either to fertilize them, or if you have very alkaline soil and fertilizer hasn't helped, put miracid on it. The reason for that is the alkalinity inhibits the uptake of nitrogen into the leaves. Putting miracid on it helps to neutralize the soil a bit and allow the plant to draw nitrogen up again. This is particularly key if you have a heavy soil, as it is more likely to be alkaline.

Why are leaves on my hollyhock turning pale green?
may be because of no proper irrigation system, insecticide
Reply:It is sort of hard to tell, but it could be the plant needs a little iron.

Tall Hollyhock?

I have some different Hollyhock growing against a wall and they get to about 4 feet every year and right before they bloom the fall over from the weight of the blooms. Does anyone have any solutions for this problem?

Tall Hollyhock?
I have had the same issue in the past, I usually get landscape sticks and put them about a foot into the ground. Once they are stable, I will use tie-downs to connect the hollyhocks with the landscape sticks. You can get green sticks and tie-downs so they will not detract from the overall look of the garden.
Reply:Tie them up so they don't fall over. Just use twine.

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Hollyhock bulbs or tubers? Will they bloom this year?

Hi new to bulbs. I just bought some Hollyhock bulbs or tubers from Costco (haven't opened yet, didn't know hollyhocks were sold this way in a package?) I live in zone 8- Texas, will they bloom this year?


Also, I bought gladiolus and lily bulbs too. Altogether I have close to 120 bulbs planted. Is this enough for an average suburban lot? I have them planted in the front and the backyard. Do I need to buy more or is this a good amount of flowers? What's the success ratio for bulbs?


Thanks

Hollyhock bulbs or tubers? Will they bloom this year?
I saw that - hollyhock bulbs - and it surprised me too.


The only thing I can figure is that they are bareroot plants in the package. I'd be interested to know, if you find out anything more on them!


Go on and get them planted. You live in zone 8, so you are well begun on your spring season. I'm in zone 8b (just north of Houston). I planted seeds. They're just barely pushing up from the soil, and I'm so excited!


On Bulbs: Success ratio has a lot to do with how healthy the bulbs are (I usually get an 80% success because some bulbs are just not viable), how healthy and supportive your soil is (have you amended it with some good compost?), and so many other factors such as sun availability, water, mulch, etc.


Gardening with bulbs is a trial and error thing. You will know more next year what to plant, when and where just by how it grows this year.


You should get a good display and plenty of flowers from 120 bulbs...do you have plenty of vases on hand?


Happy Gardening!
Reply:hollyhawks probably wont bloom the first year from bulbs however if you can purchase them at a local garden shop that is allready growing in pots they will bloom this year since they were started last year , and yes you have plenty bulbs for your yard , they will mutiply each year and you eventually will have too thin them out good luck with your gharden I love all kinds of beautiful flowers , have my small yard full of them ,
Reply:I've never seen hollyhocks in the form you indicate. I've known them to be started from seed. The plants bloom the second year. They are biennials and once started, they continue by self-seeding. Good luck.

If i transplant my hollyhock plant will it bloom this year?

Yes it is a hardy plant it will do fine. Make sure to as much of the roots as you can.

If i transplant my hollyhock plant will it bloom this year?
Hollyhock is a biennial plant. That means one year it has vegetation and the next year it blooms and sets seed. If this plant came up last then this is the year to bloom. Moving should be fine as long as you get a large section of dirt around it so you don't disturb the roots much.
Reply:Maybe, it can be stressful for the bush, my advice would be to wait till fall to transplant it, but my guess is no it wont bloom

Are there tours available to the Bradbury Building, Hollyhock house and John Storer house?

While in Los Angeles vacationing, are there other simialar, old Hollywood era homes, that someone could recommend, that I should visit?

Are there tours available to the Bradbury Building, Hollyhock house and John Storer house?
Yes. For the Bradbury Building, goto: www.laconservancy.org/tours/downtown/bra...


For the Hollyhock House, goto:


http://www.hollyhockhouse.net/hhtours.ht...


I don't know about the John Storer house, but according to the website below, it is not open to the public. I've taken tours of the Bradbury Building and Hollyhock House; enjoy!
Reply:I don't know about tours, but I do know that in the Bradbury building it's free to get in, except that you can't go past the lobby. Various companies rent out the offices in the second and third floors and don't want to be disturbed by tourists.

How deep do I plant hollyhock seeds?

1/2" is fine, but don't worry. Hollyhocks spread tremendously, so the volunteer seeds never get buried at all. Just remember you're not going to get any blooms this year. They are a biennial.

Loosing eyelid crease.

When is the best time to plant hollyhock seeds in warm so calif climate?

I threw heirloom seeds 2yrs ago and this year I finally got plants with flowers! I'm confused as well, because I've seen them sprout from nothing on vacant lots and I just can't seem to grow them!

When is the best time to plant hollyhock seeds in warm so calif climate?
Drop the seeds the ground where you want them to grow. Hardly cover and let nature do her thing.
Reply:You can plant hollyhock seeds just about any time and they'll grow for you, but the best time is in the spring. That said, I planted some just before the heatwave and they're doing fine. Be aware that they need sunlight to germinate, so you'll want to barely cover them with dirt and you won't want to plant them in the shade. It's okay if that spot of dirt will be shady during the winter when the sun is further south, but (in my experience) hollyhock seeds won't germinate in the shade. Also, hollyhocks like average soil, so don't ammend it with anything. Here's a web page with more info:


http://www.gardenguides.com/flowers/pere...

I have an old fashioned hollyhock plant that is 4 years old that gets eaten by bugs.?

The leaves and the buds. It happens every year and I have tried spraying it with insecticide several times but it still eats everything. I never can actually see the bugs though. It does flower but alot of the buds are destroyed. What are they and what can I do to permanently get rid of them before they start budding. The leaves are already full of holes.

I have an old fashioned hollyhock plant that is 4 years old that gets eaten by bugs.?
Slug and snail bait.
Reply:What a shame, those bad bugs.
Reply:Try a systemic insecticide. This should remain in the plant for a little and any bug that eats it will die.

How do i plant Hollyhock flower seeds?

Since it's early yet, I start all my seedlings in the potting shed then transplant them after I know there's no more chance of frost. I just plant them in a potting mixture about 1" deep and space them about 2" apart. When it"s time to transplant them to the garden I plant them along the fence line so I can stake them if I need to. I would plant them at least 8 to 10 inches apart where they will get plenty of sunlight.

How do i plant Hollyhock flower seeds?
When I planted my Hollyhocks I started them from seeds in the house. Then I planted them in the ground after they were so big. I gave my mom the seeds from the Hollyhocks that I grew and she took them and threw them behind the milk house, and they grew. I found them an easy plant to grow.
Reply:put them in the ground and let them grow
Reply:I just threw mine in the garden last year and they came up. Don't forget that hollyhock is a biennial - they won't bloom the first year, you have to wait for the second summer to see any flowers.
Reply:Pepare a bed in the ground and scatter seeds on them. Cover seeds with a thin layer of soil. Keep this area moist and just wait for seeds to sprout.





Best time to do this is spring through summer.

Are hollyhock petals poisonous?

A friend of mine raises hollyhock flowers and planted them next to where he had his goldfish (they're very large goldfish, in case that matters). The petals fell off of his flowers and into the water, and each of his fish died. He thinks the hollyhocks were to blame, so my question is, are the petals poisonous?

Are hollyhock petals poisonous?
I know that they are to dogs, cats, ect. (even small children) if eaten but i've never heard of them hurting fish.... I guess its possable.
Reply:No
Reply:We used to have hollyhocks though I never heard if they were poisonous.


We never ate them nor did our dog or cats.


Don't know about fish.


I got tired of all the tall stiff stems to cut down in the fall so now I keep them mowed off.


They were pretty, though.

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What do you do with hollyhock stalks after they have bloomed?

After blooming, I cut mine down..

What do you do with hollyhock stalks after they have bloomed?
Because Hollyhocks are bienial, meaning the plant takes two years before it blooms, I like to allow mine to produce seeds and self-broadcast. Then I cut down the stalk. Some people think of Hollyhocks as perennials because they always seem to have flowers. In actuality, the flowers are from plants that were seeded two years prior.
Reply:We left them as is till winter, then mowed them down while raking and mulching.

Does any one know how to get rid of weevils on a hollyhock plants?

TC--Great answer !! Dawn detergent diluted with water in a spray bottle....works everytime !!





We don't call them weevils up North...we call them ??? Can't remember the name b/c we haven't had any this year !! :))))





Just remembered-- Japanese Beetles.

Does any one know how to get rid of weevils on a hollyhock plants?
spray them with soapy water.

If I plant hollyhock plants now?

Will they grow and flower for next summer? I live in the North of the U.K. and have a sheltered but sunny garden and rocky soil.

If I plant hollyhock plants now?
Here in North Dakota, if you can get the plant started in the fall they bloom the next year. RScott

How do you make a hollyhock doll?

Looking for instructions/patteren to make a doll out of hollyhocks. Thanks

How do you make a hollyhock doll?
Cute idea I have never heard of this.It wouldn't last long though

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How long does it take for hollyhock summer carnivals to bloom?

yea its for my project in horticulture and i just wonted to know cause thats all i need.

How long does it take for hollyhock summer carnivals to bloom?
the second season from seed i just tried it two seasons ago and tha't what it took.
Reply:my seed packet of 'Carnival' I planted this week says: plant 1/2", soil temp for germination:60-75,days to germinate: 7-14 days, Days to maturity would be: 2nd year.....it is a hardy biennial.
Reply:when they are about 3 feet high which is probably a month
Reply:well here in Texas, we plant them in oct. and they dnt bloom till springtime which it'll be around mid march.

What end of the hollyhock is the bareroot?

I know this sounds stupid but I have 3 bareroothollyhock plants but I can't tell which is the part that goes in the ground. I am putting them in a container first before outdoors as it is still to cold. Is that right?

What end of the hollyhock is the bareroot?
All plant which are growing will have a shoot and a root. It is the root which is bare. I am not sure were are talking about the same plant . In Britain Hollyhocks are bienial which are grown as annual plants, if they are barerooted keep the roots moist and out of the air until you plant it,I dont see any reason why keeping them in a pot will harm them but try a degradeable one so you can plant the pot and all when you finaly do plant it out. You could make one from an old pot and cover it with paper machet, use a varnish to seal the outside. Limited life cycle.
Reply:one end should have little hair like attachments (roots). if not, plant it lying down.

How deep should I plant Hollyhock seeds?

I have a pack of Hollyhock seeds and it does not say how deep it should be on the back of the bag. just wanted to make sure. thx

How deep should I plant Hollyhock seeds?
Any seed gets planted at a depth of three times the width of the seed. The width of the seed is the middle dimension ie height, width, depth. Note that most seeds have two dimensions the same so thats easy , the most common dimenson.


Happy growing!
Reply:ABOUT 2 INCHES
Reply:I live in Alabama and in my experience you can throw the seeds on top of the dirt and they will grow and spread until you hate the sight of them and mow them down good luck
Reply:Just a quarter of an inch is fine. I used to just throw the seeds around the garden and they would always come up. Good luck!
Reply:I beleive it's 3 inches. Water and wait.
Reply:about a quater to half of inch is enough, make sure no signs of frost, they will germinate quick, and sprouts need to be warm