Turk's cap

Sun

Partial shade is ideal; tolerates full sun with adequate moisture and deeper shade with fewer flowers.

Water

Water regularly while establishing; afterward, water deeply during prolonged dry spells. Plants in full sun need more water.

Soil

Adaptable to clay, loam or sandy soil, provided drainage is adequate; grows best in moderately fertile soil with organic matter.

Height

3-6 ft (0.9-1.8 m), sometimes taller where frost does not cut it back

Spread

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m), widening over time through basal shoots

Flowers

Red, usually from early summer to autumn frost; flowering may begin earlier in frost-free climates. The petals remain wrapped around a projecting staminal column.

Foliage

Broad, medium- to dark-green leaves with toothed edges, often shallowly lobed and softly hairy.

Growth

Fast in warm weather.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.5 ft (0.76 m)

3. After 2 years

   3 ft (1 m)

4. After 3 years

   4 ft (1.3 m)

5. After 5 years

   4 ft (1.4 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant after the soil warms and the danger of hard frost has passed.
• Water deeply through the first growing season, letting the surface soil begin to dry between waterings.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Top-dress with compost in spring; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding, which encourages leafy growth.
• Remove unwanted basal shoots while small if the clump is spreading beyond its space.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, cut frost-killed stems back to healthy wood or near ground level before new growth starts. Where stems survive winter, thin crowded growth and shorten overly long shoots; light tip-pruning in spring encourages branching.

Late winter

Check for frost damage and cut back dead stems before new shoots develop.

Spring

Plant after hard frosts, refresh mulch and add a light compost top-dressing.

Late spring

Tip-prune young shoots if you want a bushier plant, and remove unwanted basal shoots.

Summer

Water during extended dry weather, especially in sunny positions, and check leaf undersides for pests.

Early autumn

Allow continued flowering for pollinators; avoid hard pruning before winter.

Late autumn

In colder gardens, replenish mulch over the root zone without burying the crown.

• Plant beneath high-canopied trees for summer colour in bright, open shade.
• Use in an informal mixed border with American beautyberry and shade-tolerant salvias.
• Mass along a woodland edge for a leafy backdrop punctuated by red flowers.
• Place near a terrace or window where visiting hummingbirds can be watched in the Americas.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Wildlife garden, Pollinator garden, Southern, Cottage garden and Texas Hill Country.

Plant it with: American beautyberry, Cedar sage, Inland sea oats, Coral bells and Autumn sage.

Wildlife: The flowers provide nectar for hummingbirds within their natural range and for butterflies. Birds and other wildlife eat the small red fruits.

• Aphids on tender shoots: wash them off with water and preserve ladybirds and other natural predators.
• Whiteflies beneath leaves: inspect regularly and use insecticidal soap labelled for the plant if an infestation persists.
• Wilting or scorched leaves in hot sun: water deeply and provide afternoon shade where summers are hot and dry.
• Root decline in persistently wet soil: improve drainage or move the plant to a raised position rather than watering on a fixed schedule.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. The flowers and ripe fruits have a history of human consumption, but specific veterinary safety information is limited; do not encourage pets or horses to eat large quantities.

• Sleeping hibiscus (Malvaviscus penduliflorus)

  Usually a larger, more frost-tender shrub with longer, conspicuously hanging flowers; Drummond's Turk's cap has shorter flowers held more upright or outward.

• Scarlet rose mallow (Hibiscus coccineus)

  Has large, fully open flowers with five separated petals and deeply divided, narrow-lobed leaves, rather than furled flowers and broad leaves.

The common name refers to the turban-like, furled flowers, while drummondii honours the Scottish botanical collector Thomas Drummond.

Propagation. Divide rooted basal shoots in spring, or take softwood cuttings in late spring or summer. Seed is also possible, though seedlings may vary and can appear around established plants.

Accepted botanical name

Malvaviscus arboreus drummondii

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.