Some varieties grow best in cool-summer areas, and they appreciate shelter from prevailing winds.
Plant hollyhocks in groups of 8 to 12, setting them about two feet apart. They will grow into a stunning solid mass, making a dramatic vertical statement on a grand scale. Many gardeners like the effect of single colors in a group. To orchestrate this, buy seeds of single colors and grow them apart. Traditionally, hollyhocks are grown up against a building or fence.