I gotta step in on this one LOL!
Not ALL
Hollyhock are biennial...many can and do live as short lived perennials and some DO bloom from
seed the first year; "Indian Summer" is one that will. The same goes for certain species of Foxglove. The species I keep have been perennial for me for 5 years. I remove all
seed pods long before they have formed mature
seed and dispose of them to prevent re-seeding...so yes, I'm speaking from experience here
They are hardy to
zone 3 and do just fine without mulching. In summer I cut back all the flowering stalks down into the foliage for a nice fluch of new leaves and a fall re-bloom.
Also try this trick...I believe you will like it especially in windy areas! To create a HH that is fuller, shorter and more compact with several flowring stems, cut the first flowering stems (before they
flower) down into the foliage. They will bloom later and be more attractive
Vera
Vera