Turk S Cap Flower

Turk s cap malvaviscus arboreus var.

Turk s cap flower.

Named for the shape of its small flower which resembles the traditional turkish hat turk s cap is. Turk s cap plant malvaviscus arboreus also called the wax plant texas mallow and red mallow. In the malvaceae family it is also commonly known as wax mallow texas mallow manzanilla and sleeping hibiscus among other common names. It grows in filtered sun too like underneath trees.

The marked counties are guidelines only. Drummondii is a bushy member of the malvaceae family which includes all the various mallows rose pavonia winecup hibiscus okra cotton and hollyhock among others the bright red flower of turk s cap however is not the regular mallow like open five petal bloom. Growing turk s cap lilies lilium superbum is an elegant way to add towering color to the sunny or partially shaded flowerbed in summer turk s cap lily information tells us that these flowers nearly became extinct a few decades ago because of their popularity as an edible it seems the bulb from which the turk s cap flowers grow is a tasty addition to stews and meat dishes. Pancakes with turk s cap flowers are delicious.

Texas distribution attributed to u. Young turk s cap leaves in the spring. In its native habitat turk s cap is fairly large and coarse having upright or somewhat reclining stems bearing 4 to 6 inch diameter tomentose dull green leaves. Turk s cap is a perennial deciduous shrub like plant native to the southeastern united states.

Close up of turk s cap flower. Turk s cap shrub bush in the summer and already flowering. And parts of mexico. Turk s cap will germinate promptly from fresh untreated seeds planted outside after danger of frost is past.

The turk s cap plant malvaviscus arboreus is native to southeastern u s. Cover the seeds no deeper than 1 4 1 2 inches. It produces small 2 3 inch red flowers that resemble a closed up hibiscus. This is a great native shubby plant to attract butterflies bees and hummingbirds.

Its vermillion red flowers are twisted into a tube showing extended red stamens protruding from the whorl. Turk s cap is also propagated easily from softwood cuttings. This is one shrub that grows really fast and grows about 6 7 ft. Turk s cap continues to flower through the summer heat and on into the fall.

Germination of turk s cap is inhibited by cold temperatures. Close up of turk s cap flower. Tall and about 4 5 ft wide.