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I guess they call it hollyhock rust but I call it scale. All my leaves on my hollyhocks have it except the very top. I googled how to get rid of it and they suggest an insecticide but is it too far advanced to do that? Would you just cut the whole plant down? Someone suggested that I treat the ground before they even come up next year. Anybody with suggestions?

I need suggestions too! Mine have all died this spring from the rust. I've had it every year but not bad...this year it was horrible and it took over almost overnight!

Think I may have to move where I plant mine.

If it is 'rust', then there's not much you can do except remove the leaves that are affected, clean up the undersides of the plants and let the plant proceed to flower. The rust is treated with a fungicide....not a herbicide which is for killing pests on the plant.
Garden sulfur is one such fungicide but there are many on store shevles to treat such attack.

The key is to keep the undersides of the plant as clean as you can make it so the fungus cant invade the soil under the plant.

Hollyhock is a biennial---grows one season, dies back, regrows next season, produces flower, drops seed and the cycle starts all over again.

There is a perennial hollyhock-- called singles--that does not suffer to the same degree the rust problem. Some say though they are not as popular as the giants that produce such beautiful flowers at the rear of border.

Years ago, I came across this "Healthy Hollyhock Spray" recipe: 1 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 tlbsp canola oil, 1/2 tsp Ivory liquid dishwashing soap, 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1 gallon water. Pour into a small spray bottle and shake thoroughly before each use. Spray hollyhocks once a week from the time the first buds appear until flowers quit blooming. Always apply in early morning, drenching both sides of leaves with liquid. I myself have used it and it is a miracle spray. My hollyhocks were beautiful with nothing but a healthy sheen on the leaves. I hope yours aren't too far gone. Let me know what happens.

Thank you mariske! I'll try that next year. Mine are gone for this year and I've planted more in my garden house!