I've been trying to grow these things for years and they never get very tall
or have more than a couple of blooms. This year a 9ft monster has emerged
uninvited from a small hole in some paving next to a drain cover.
I know that underneath there is at least 4" of sand, 4" of hardcore, and
then at least a foot of sandy soil mixed with broken glass. I can't imagine
this is a good location for any plant, unless of course its roots have found
their way into the sewer.
Come to think of it though, all the biggest specimens in this area seem to
have self seeded in nooks and crannies. This would suggest that maybe they
need a deep, cool, but well-drained soil and are not too bothereed about
nutrients.
Any thoughts anyone?

"stuart noble" wrote in message

Snip . . . . .I can't imagine
this is a good location for any plant, unless of course its roots have
found
their way into the sewer.

Brought back some forgotten memories that did. My grandfather who was
brought up in a small cottage in Gloucestershire told me that hollyhocks
were grown by nearly everyone where he lived to hide the privy at the end of
the back garden and they all called them sh - - house roses!!

Ron

In article , stuart
noble writes
I've been trying to grow these things for years and they never get very tall
or have more than a couple of blooms. This year a 9ft monster has emerged
uninvited from a small hole in some paving next to a drain cover.
I know that underneath there is at least 4" of sand, 4" of hardcore, and
then at least a foot of sandy soil mixed with broken glass. I can't imagine
this is a good location for any plant, unless of course its roots have found
their way into the sewer.
Come to think of it though, all the biggest specimens in this area seem to
have self seeded in nooks and crannies. This would suggest that maybe they
need a deep, cool, but well-drained soil and are not too bothereed about
nutrients.
Any thoughts anyone?

The native range of the genus is south eastern Europe, south west and
central Asia and southern Russia. This suggests a taste for dry, humus
poor soil. OTOH, the nearest relative is Althaea, of which at least one
species grows in saltmarshes.
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley