Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus
Also listed as Hibiscus malvaviscus
Also known as Wax Mallow, Sleeping Hibiscus
Climate Match for your location
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A tropical shrub prized for its distinctive turban-shaped red flowers that bloom from summer through fall. Hardy in warm climates, it attracts hummingbirds and butterflies and can be grown in containers in cooler regions.
Why grow it
Turk's cap offers reliable summer-to-fall blooms when many ornamentals are fading, making it useful for extending the pollinator season in warm gardens. Compared to other mallow relatives, it tolerates heat and drought well once established and requires minimal fertilizer, reducing maintenance demands typical of showier tropical shrubs.
Watch out for
In regions where it can self-seed, monitor for volunteer seedlings as the plant readily reproduces from fallen seed. Container-grown specimens in cool climates may need protection indoors over winter and careful hardening-off before outdoor placement to avoid sudden temperature shock.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Malvaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Mexico and Central America
Native to: Texas
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A tropical shrub prized for its distinctive turban-shaped red flowers that bloom from summer through fall. Hardy in warm climates, it attracts hummingbirds and butterflies and can be grown in containers in cooler regions.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Turk's Cap grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Turk's cap offers reliable summer-to-fall blooms when many ornamentals are fading, making it useful for extending the pollinator season in warm gardens. Compared to other mallow relatives, it tolerates heat and drought well once established and requires minimal fertilizer, reducing maintenance demands typical of showier tropical shrubs.
Watch out for
In regions where it can self-seed, monitor for volunteer seedlings as the plant readily reproduces from fallen seed. Container-grown specimens in cool climates may need protection indoors over winter and careful hardening-off before outdoor placement to avoid sudden temperature shock.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Malvaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Mexico and Central America
Native to: Texas
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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