Shrub
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Also called: Wax Mallow, Drummond's Turk's Cap
The go-to native for shade that still wants color. Its whorled red 'fez' flowers feed hummingbirds all summer, followed by edible red fruit the birds love.
Growing & care
Adapts from full sun to deep shade; blooms best with a few hours of light. Dies back in hard winters and returns from the root. Cut to the ground in late winter.
Bloom season
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
In bloom: May–Nov · Colors: red
Where to buy
Look for turk's cap (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii) at: native Texas nurseries, Prairie Moon Nursery, local garden centers.
Buying nursery-propagated natives — never collected from the wild — keeps
wild populations intact. Ask any seller where their stock comes from.
Good for