Drummonds Turk's-cap is a "sticky mallow" that does well in nearly every soil type. It has leggy, upright stems that produce solitary, whorled blooms that barely open. Butterflies and hummingbirds love the true red version of this turban-shaped flower, but it comes in white, too.
Texas Native
Hummingbird Plant
Butterfly Host
Shade Tolerant
Long Blooming
About This Plant
Did You Know?
The small red fruits of Turk's Cap are edible and taste like watermelon candy — sweet, mild, and slightly watery. They were a favorite snack of children throughout South Texas for generations.
Growing Details
Sun
Part Shade to Full Sun
Water
Low to Moderate
Soil
Most soils, tolerates poor
Range
TX, SE US, Mexico, Caribbean
Family
Malvaceae (Mallow)
Freeze
Dies back, regrows from roots
Wildlife Value
- Primary nectar source for Ruby-throated and Buff-bellied Hummingbirds
- Red fruits eaten by mockingbirds, catbirds, and Cedar Waxwings
- Host plant for Painted Lady and Gray Hairstreak butterfly larvae
- Dense stems shelter ground-nesting birds and small lizards
Photos
Flowers
Fruit
Full Shrub
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