[FRUITFULL]

3 out of 4 of the hollyhocks have yellow rusty leaves developing. i seem to remember seeing a gardening program where they dug them all up and disposed of them and not composted as they were disesed.I could have the wrong plant and be wrong.
They were growing along great but what do i do please?

[sunshineband]

Does this help, Fruitfull?

http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/FactSheets/hollyhockrust/hollyhockrust.htm

[oldbean]

I didn't realise I had such a serious disease. Had it for years. A few plants get it, most don't, a bit like swine flu I suppose, so as the plants still grow despite it, I shan't worry and I shan't treat it.

[catllar]

My hollyhocks are suffering too - I've tried fungicides, cutting down in the autumn and even cutting down the first growth in the spring so they regrow, but they still look skanky. There is  also the not inconsiderable problem that our resident grass snake has taken up residence thereabouts  ; I'm not too keen on plunging my hands in the undergrowth, (purely to avoid frightening the snake,  you understand)  so I've decided to be v. radical and have 'em out (once they've flowered) Shame 'cos they're the most fabulous deep dark burgundy red.

[oldbean]

Shame 'cos they're the most fabulous deep dark burgundy red.

I would leave them and not worry. You like the colour, they keep on growing, so enjoy the bits you like. Call them a new variety if it makes you feel better. That's what happened with variegated everything, they even breed them with the disease IN.

[FRUITFULL]

thank you for the info iv read the link and am going to remove a few leaves tommorow but not dig them up as i was going to.

[Trillium]

But do know that if you keep the diseased plants going, that the disease will keep spreading further. Sadly, hollyhocks seem to be the #1 host plant for rust. I've used a spray of 1 part white vinegar to 10 parts water over the plants and it seems to help control the disease.

[oldbean]

I haven't done anything to mine, ever, and we've been here 25 years. The disease hasn't spread.  :happy: