Now, you see, them hollyhocks, they don’t do much the first year, no flowers or nothing. You just get them leaves, big ol’ leaves, like someone threw down a bunch of floppy, fuzzy green blankets on the dirt. They stay low to the ground too, in a kind of a circle. You know, like when you’re kneading dough, and it forms a shape? That’s them hollyhock leaves for you, just all rounded and a bit hairy, kind of soft looking, but they got this roughness to ‘em. Them leaves, they can get big too, like up to 30 centimeters! Ain’t no small thing, that’s for sure. Roundy like a heart but with some lobes, usually five or seven, all jagged like your granny’s old bread knife. You know what I mean, right? It’s not like them fancy garden plants that start blooming right away. Nah, hollyhocks, they take their time.
First Year Growth
So, what’s goin’ on with them in the first year? Well, they’re just settlin’ in, growin’ their roots and makin’ them big leaves. Not gonna see no flowers in that first year, no sir. You got to be patient. Them hollyhocks are biennials, you see. That’s just a fancy way of sayin’ they take two years to do their thing. First year, it’s all about roots and leaves. They’re buildin’ up strength for the next year when the real show starts. But in the first year, they sit low, real low, hugging the dirt, just them big leaves spread out. You’ll be thinkin’, ‘Is this all? Where’s the flowers?’ But you got to wait.
Now, when you look at them first-year leaves, you can tell they belong to hollyhocks ’cause they’re big and floppy, almost look like they’re too heavy for themselves. And they got that fuzzy feelin’ to ’em, a little rough around the edges, like sandpaper, but not too bad. They grow right out of the ground in a rosette. That’s what they call it, a rosette, but to me, it just looks like a bunch of leaves plopped down in a circle. They’re bright green, real fresh lookin’ in the summer sun. But like I said, no flowers yet, just leaves, and they stay low to the ground. You ain’t gonna see no tall stems in that first year, not yet. That comes later.
What To Watch For
- If you’re tryin’ to figure out if you got hollyhocks in your garden, just look for them big, roundish leaves in that first year.
- They’re heart-shaped but with them jaggedy lobes, like five or seven. Ain’t hard to spot once you know what you’re lookin’ for.
- The leaves got that soft fuzz on ‘em, like a blanket for the plants. But they got some roughness too, not smooth like a baby’s cheek, more like an old wool sweater.
- Don’t be expectin’ no flowers though. You gotta wait till the second year for that. It’s just leaves for now.
So, that first year’s all about them hollyhocks settlin’ in, growin’ their leaves, and makin’ sure they’re ready for the next year. You see ‘em in your garden, don’t get impatient. They’ll surprise you later, but for now, it’s all about them big ol’ leaves, takin’ up space and gettin’ ready for what’s comin’. Just keep waterin’ ‘em, make sure they get enough sun, and let ‘em do their thing. You’ll know hollyhocks when you see ‘em, no need to rush.
Tags：[hollyhock leaves, first year hollyhock, plant identification, biennial plants, hollyhock growth]
