View Full Version : Hollyhocks
RayMarler
08-04-2008, 04:06 AM
The starthistle bloom is pretty much over here, it's the last major bloom of the summer. I've got some Hollyhocks here and there in the garden and borders of the back yard and the bees are now working them over pretty good. They seem to be a decent flower to have around for the end of summer. :D
Eaglerock
08-04-2008, 05:23 AM
Do you not have Golden Rod there?
BEES4U
08-04-2008, 08:48 AM
I have located some large plants that are pink singles.
What is interesting is that the plants do not show the lesions of rust fungus.
I will collect the seeds as the plants are isolated.
Regards,
Ernie
Tom G. Laury
08-04-2008, 12:00 PM
I think the pollen is toxic to bees
dragonfly
08-04-2008, 12:40 PM
There's a wildflower in this area that is good for late summer bee forage- frostweed. It survives the heat and drought fairly well, and blooms in late August which is our killer season in this area. The butterflies love it too. I don't know if it grows in your area, but I can send you some seeds if you are interested.
RayMarler
08-05-2008, 01:35 AM
I think the pollen is toxic to bees
The only references I've found to poisonous pollen from hollyhocks is from herbicides and insecticides sprayed on or near the plant, the residues from the spray gets absorbed and stored in the pollen of the plants. I don't use any sprays here. There has always been hollyhocks around my neighbors yard and this year in my yard, the bees have never seemingly had a problem from them. From the searchins I've just done on the internet I've found that the flowers are edible and bees make a fine honey from them :D
RayMarler
08-05-2008, 01:38 AM
Do you not have Golden Rod there?
No, no goldenrod in my area. I think it may be too hot and dry here for them?
I have had around 10 inches of rain here since mid July. All of my Hollyhocks lost their leaves to rust so I cut them all down.
Wax Moth
08-07-2008, 02:16 PM
My hollyhocks get rust too and in wet years the leaves also get covered in white mould. The bumble bees love them more than the honey bees. The latter prefer the herbs. I leave the hollyhocks to flower, even when they are ugly, because bumble bees species are endangered.