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Re: Hollyhocks- self pollinating?

I believe regarding the hollyhocks you may indeed have some hybrids. However
not all the seed should be hybridized. When plants are blooming again this
year (provided they are not planted close together again) you should select
out the plants that are true to color (unless you like the new colors!). You
see, often a plant will 'mostly' pollinate itself unless it has some sort of
mechanism to deter self pollination which I think Alcea spp. (hollyhocks) do
not. You may have 'mostly' true colored plants.
    I do suggest that we all learn what Margaret has learned-to try to keep
things true (unless one is attempting to make something new) by putting some
space between groups that will hybridize. It is not always easy. I own a
small nursery and if I am going to collect seed on a species, I quarantine
it while it is blooming so that the seed is true. Sometimes you just can't
do this I understand. But if you don't, be aware that your seed is probably
not going to produce the same thing as the plant it came off of. I am not
saying anything bad about hybrids. But undocumented hybrids don't teach us
anything. It would be great if people were making hybrids with attention and
intention rather than it happening under our slothful noses. I myself like
to retain the true species on most things although I DO hybridize.



Jared R. Shortman
jared@tucsongrowers.com
Tucson Growers
www.tucsongrowers.com
(520) 882-7060
2509 N. Campbell #338
Tucson, AZ 85719
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