An old Cottage-garden favourite, this cousin to the Hollyhock has similar satiny flowers in a soft lavender-purple shade, exotically striped with deep maroon veins. It forms an upright, bushy mound that may need to be staked if grown in rich soil. This is a short-lived perennial or biennial, often flowering itself to death in the first year, but coming back the next year from self-sown seedlings. Excellent in containers, or the sunny border. In cold regions this is well worth growing, because of the long blooming season. Flowers are attractive to butterflies. Also known as Striped Mallow. Height 60-120 cm 23-47 inches Spread 45-60 cm 18-23 inches Sowing: Sow in February to June or September to October Seed is best sown in a cold frame in spring or autumn but can also be sown directly where they are to flower. Seed germinates quickly and easily. Sowing Indoors: Fill pots or trays with a peaty compost. Stand the post in water to soak and then drain, sow the seeds on the surface and cover with a fine layer of sieved compost. Keep the surface of the compost moist but not waterlogged. Germination usually takes 7 to 21 days. Prick out the seedlings into 7cm (3in) pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in their permanent positions in the early summer. Sowing Direct: Alternatively, sow in late spring into a well raked bed ensuring that the soil is fine and crumbly. Scatter the seed, rake lightly and firm down well. Keep well watered and weeded in early stages. When large enough to handle, thin out seedlings to 45cm (18in) apart. Perennial. Seeds are a living product that rely on many impotant factors including the growers own skills,planting time,seed depth,type of soil, weather etc etc Once you have received your seeds its over to you,,we cannot be held responsible after this point as we have no control over the growing conditions