Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus) is a native plant that is currently blooming. The red 1 inch tall blossom has petals curled around to resembles a Turkish turban with a staminal column protruding out the top. It is in the Mallow family which includes cotton, hibiscus and okra.
Turk’s Cap does well in the shade but does best with morning sun and shady afternoons. Since it is native, it is drought tolerant once established. The deer in my neighborhood eat the plant so I grow it in my fenced backyard.
When it dies back in the winter I trim it to the ground. When it emerges in the spring I cut off some of its side shoots to start new plants. It gets about 4 feet tall and spreads laterally.
It begins to bloom in July and will continue to bloom on through until fall. It has been bred to come in different colors, but red is the natural native color. Turk’s cap was selected as a Texas Superstar® plant by Texas A&M in 2011 for its generations of contributions to our state’s landscapes.
Although Crepe Myrtles are not native plants, they are well adapted to our climate.
You have undoubtedly noticed that they come in a variety of colors and sizes. I especially like the bark on the older plants. After it blooms if you trim the flowers you may get another round of blooms. If you let the blooms go to seeds you may find volunteer Crepe Myrtles. The deer eat these tender volunteers. When you first plant a Crepe Myrtle you should encase it in a wire fence and water it frequently the first year.
Wait until Fall to plant a new Crepe Myrtle.
Written by Jackie Mattice, Hays County Master Naturalist
