Turk’s Cap (Red) (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii)

Turk’s Cap

Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii

Other Common Names: Turk’s Cap Mallow, Drummond’s Turk’s Cap

Quick Plant Info

• ☀️ Light: Part Shade to Shade
• 💧 Water: Medium
• 🌿 Type: Shrub
• 📏 Mature Size: 3–6 ft tall × 3–6 ft wide

Description

A reliable native shrub for shade, with distinctive red blooms that attract hummingbirds through the heat of summer.

Turk’s Cap forms a soft, spreading shrub with maple-like leaves and unique red flowers that never fully open, giving them their signature “turban” shape. It thrives in shaded landscapes and continues blooming well into fall, even during hot North Texas summers.

🌼 Why it works

• One of the best-performing natives for shade
• Blooms reliably through summer heat into fall
• Handles a wide range of conditions once established
• Works as a loose screen or background shrub

🐦 Wildlife value

A strong nectar source for hummingbirds and other pollinators during the bloom season.

Dense growth provides cover, and the plant contributes to overall habitat value in shaded landscapes.

🌱 Where it thrives

Best in part shade to shade, especially under trees or along woodland edges. It adapts well to typical garden soils and performs reliably in established landscapes.

• Understory plantings
• Shaded beds and woodland edges
• Naturalized or informal plantings

Soil: Adapts to a range of soils, including clay, but performs best with some organic matter and moderate drainage.

✂️ Growth & maintenance

May die back to the ground in colder winters and return in spring. Can be cut back to maintain shape or encourage fuller growth.

💧 Water (establishment note)

Water regularly during establishment; once established, Turk’s Cap tolerates typical dry periods but performs best with occasional deep watering during extended drought.

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