Hello! I need some help and I hope this is the right section to post my questions but if not please move if needed.

I bought myself a morello cherry lupine, but I'd like to know what might be the best spot for this plant. I have beds on the East, West and South sides of my property. I'm thinking to locate it on the south side but having never grown, I am unsure if this might be too harsh. I have sandy soil so I don't think that will be an issue. Also, how frequently will this need to be watered? Any insight would be great on a best place and tips to get it to thrive.

Secondly - hollyhocks. When we first moved in I planted a very dark one and it did well for about 5 years, but gave up the ghost with its last season having been attacked by Rose chafers who made the leaves super lacy and the following spring I had nothing. Since then I have tried replanting yearly to get them to come back for a second or third year. And I'm not succeeding, last year I had leaves only which I expected (and maybe I'm too early - I haven't seen any leaves come up at this point from that plant). I didn't think the spot was a bad area since I've had success before. Besides the Rose chafers, my only other issues I have noted: Black walnut trees in the neighborhood and moles. Lots of crazy moles. What am I doing wrong? I bought a replacement plant as a just in case for this year - a young Chaters Double Mix from my local greenhouse guy that I'd like to plant, but maybe I need to move the area where I have planted in the past.

I appreciate any insight you can give me on either. Thank you for your help!

Probably too late for you but..............Lupines usually do best in full sun. With regular Summer rains, additional watering shouldn't be needed.........unless those regular Summer rains are not too regular. If they are lacking water for extended periods, they will often develop powdery mildew. If so, just remove those leaves.

I'm sure it must happen somewhere...........but I've never seen a fully healthy, no bugs, no-rust Hollyhock growing anywhere. They should be in full sun. Maybe you had better luck with the one you purchased this year.

Heck no on the hollyhock. It's stayed smaller and just leaves (which I expected). I guess we'll see what next year brings. And the lupines - I've got on the southwest side but no flowering this year, and too they have remained small. Maybe this is their year for growing and will take off next year?

Found lupines fry in full sun, hollyhocks love full sun, JB magnet

Thanks for that info. I'm planning on moving a bunch of things in my beds so I can see about moving those too.

My lupines drowned with too much water and in a northwest exposure, but did fine in full sun.



They often self-seed and grow between the bricks:



My mom's hollyhocks had a spot on the east side, no water except rain, and never had problems. I always got rust. This year some popped up on the southeast side with no JB's, no rust.

Hi,. Add a little bit of peat moss to the hole when you plant your lupine. I found that tip thru Bluestone perennials years ago
Some hollyhocks are biennial and some are annual. I would just buy seeds and scatter them around where you want them to grow.

Thank you for that help! I'll have to try it out this season.