Turk’s Cap
Malvaviscus drummondi | Synonym: Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Also Known As: Turk’s Cap, Drummond Wax-mallow, Texas Mallow, Mexican Apple, Red Mallow, May Apple, Wild Turk’s Cap, Bleeding Heart
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-11 Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Perennial Shrub, Evergreen in Zones 9a to 11, Deciduous in Zones 7a to 8b, Annual in zones 6b and further north
Height at Maturity: Zones 7a to 8b: 2-3′ | Zones 9a to 11: 5-9′
Width at Maturity: 3-5′
Spacing: 2.5 to 3′ for mass plantings, 7’+ for space between plants
Spacing: 2.5 to 3′ for mass plantings, 7’+ for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form: Upright
Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
Flower Color: Red
Flower Size: 1″
Flowering Period: Zones 9a to 11: Year Round | Zones 7a-8b: Summer to Frost
Flower Type: Single
Fragrant Flowers: No
Foliage Color: Green
Fragrant Foliage: No
Berries: Yes
Berry Color: Red
Sun Needs: Full Sun or Shade!
Water Needs: Average, Low when established
Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt (amended)
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well-Drained Moist, Well-Drained Dry
Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.5 (Moderately to Slightly Acid)
Maintenance / Care: Low
Attracts: Visual Attention, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Pollinators
Resistances: Deer, Disease, Drought, Heat, Humidity, Insect, Rabbit
Description
A highly adaptable and exceptionally easy-to-grow North American Native perennial flowering shrub both the hummingbirds and butterflies will thank you for planting, Turk’s Cap produces an abundance of vermillion red flowers from early summer to frost! In frost-free climates it is evergreen and will bloom year round. The truly unique flowers have twisting petals that resemble a traditional Turkish hat, hence the name. What’s more, Turk’s Cap is not fussy about soil type, will grow and flower in full sun or shade, is highly resistant to pest and disease, and is drought tolerant when established.
Turk’s Cap leaves have been used as an emmolient and in Mexico the flowers are used to treat inflammation of the digestive tract and as a menstrual aid. The marble-size red fruit is edible and is enjoyed by a number of birds and animals. The flowers are an excellent nectar source for hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing 2 to 3 feet tall in colder climates and 5 to 9 feet tall in frost-free zones, Turk’s Cap is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings or as a hedge in sunny or shady landscape and perennial borders. Also suitable for growing in pots, planters and other containers. A fine addition to hummingbird and butterfly gardens, red theme gardens, container gardens, cottage gardens, perennial gardens, rock gardens, wildflower gardens, and sunny woodland borders. In it’s north American habitat from the Texas Coastal Plain to East Florida it can be found growing in sandy low grounds near streams, limestone slopes around wooded creeks and even palm groves.
Suggested Spacing: 3 to 3.5 feet apart for groupings; 7 feet or more apart for space between plants
Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Zone 7a, where this plant is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.
Growing Preferences
Turk’s Cap is very easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained soil and full sun or shade! When growing in the ground it has good drought tolerance when established. Keep an eye on plants growing in containers and provide water if you see the foliage begin to wilt. Feed in spring and again in early summer with a slow-release flower food or natural or organic plant food. Prune as needed for shaping purposes.
Helpful Articles
Plant Turk’s Cap as you would Salvia plants…
- How To Plant Perennial Salvia & Sage Plants
Plant Long & Prosper!
Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff
Questions? Contact Us!
After having adopted puppies, I had to remove all of the existing shrubs from our yard, as they’re known to be toxic to dogs. I ordered several of these – they came in very carefully packed, the soil was moist and a few weeks later, they’ve started blooming. A very well-welcomed addition to our yard!
After having bought a few dozen plants from this company, I’ll never go anywhere else again. Quality plants and a very quick, friendly and helpful customer service. Thank you!———————————————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the kind words and great review! Beth | WBG 🙂
After having bought a few dozen plants from this company, I’ll never go anywhere else again. Quality plants and a very quick, friendly and helpful customer service. Thank you!———————————————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the kind words and great review! Beth | WBG 🙂
I’m delighted with my plant It arrived promptly with good instructions and was very well packed.——————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
This is not my first purchase from Wilson Brothers and I have had such good experiences with them, and this plant did not disappoint me. It is so healthy looking and was blooming when it arrived. It continues to produce more blooms and although it’s too late in the year for hummingbirds in Alabama, butterflies are still around and love to feast on the flowers. I can’t wait for next summer to see all the traffic this plant will bring to my garden.—————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
Plant came in great shape, growing well so far.———————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
Received my wax mallow about 4 weeks ago and planted it in a 16” pot. It is now 3-4 times the size it was when it arrived and is blooming. Great job, guys!——————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
Received these looking a little worn. Planted them in some dappled shade, watered them for a week, and they’re gorgeous. Happy plants. <3 We'll see how they bloom in a year or two. I have high hopes, since the azalea I bought bloomed the first year.———————————————————We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Hopefully you will have blooms soon. Beth | WBG 🙂
All plants from Wilson’s has come well packaged, still moist and ready to plant. Plants have been healthy and vigorous.—————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
Flowers aren’t overly large, but are pretty. I look foward to attracting hummingbirds, etc. next spring. Plants, as always, came healthy and in great shape.————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
When I opened the box I was concerned as the plant was a bit spindly. I had no reason to worry. Replanted, getting sun and water has this plant sprouting new leaves and 2 new flowers. Coolest flower. I look forward to seeing this next year. Great job by Wilson Bros. with packing and shipping during the hottest summer on record.—————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG































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