Turk’s cap is a Texas tough, easy to grow native perennial.
September 23, 2024 - As summer fades and the cool breezes of fall roll into East Texas, the vibrant landscape shifts to celebrate one of nature’s most remarkable spectacles—the fall migration of the ruby-throated hummingbird. During this time, these tiny, jewel-like birds begin their long journey south to Central America, and one of their favorite roadside pit stops is our Texas Superstar, Turk’s cap (Malvaviscus arboreus drummondii).
Turk’s cap is a native Texas perennial that is as tough as it is beautiful. It thrives in partial shade and full sun, producing bright red, twisted, hibiscus-like blooms throughout the summer and well into the fall. Unlike many garden flowers, Turk’s cap’s unique, spiral-shaped flowers never fully open, leaving their petals tightly curled, much like a Turkish turban—hence the name. These blooms are not just decorative; they serve as vital fuel stations for hummingbirds during their herculean fall migration.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds, the only species to breed in the Eastern U.S., are highly dependent on nectar sources as they bulk up for their exhausting journey south. These tiny birds can double their body weight in fat to prepare for the 500-mile nonstop flight across the Gulf of Mexico. Flowers like Turk’s cap, which offer high-energy nectar, provide essential nourishment during this critical period. The bright red blooms are especially attractive to hummingbirds, which are drawn to red hues like magnets. The flowers’ tubular shape makes it easy for hummingbirds to access the nectar with their long beaks and tongues.
While Turk’s cap is most famous for its red blooms, it comes in other colors too, including pink and white. Beyond its visual appeal and benefits to hummingbirds, Turk’s cap is also a low-maintenance plant for gardeners. It is drought-tolerant, deer-tolerant, and adaptable to a variety of soils, making it an excellent choice for East Texas landscapes. Whether planted in shady woodland gardens or sunny butterfly borders, Turk’s cap will reward you with a show of color and wildlife activity, especially during the fall migration season.
In addition to ruby-throated hummingbirds, Turk’s cap supports other pollinators such as sulfur butterflies and native bees, making it a valuable plant for promoting biodiversity in the garden. Its blooms persist until the first frost, and the plant’s fruits, which resemble small, red apples, are eaten by birds and small mammals. It is a truly multi-functional native species that serves both aesthetic and ecological purposes.
It can reach 3 to 5 feet in height and width, creating a lush, informal backdrop to other fall-flowering plants like asters, mums, and salvias. Shearing it each month during the growing season will keep it tidy and in-bounds.
As the ruby-throated hummingbirds make their way south, it is gratifying to know that we can help support their journey by planting nectar-rich, native plants like Turk’s cap. Not only do these plants add beauty and diversity to our gardens, but they also play a crucial role in sustaining wildlife, particularly during such an important time of year.
Greg Grant is the Smith County horticulturist and Master Gardener coordinator for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. He is the author of Texas Fruit and Vegetable Gardening, Texas Home Landscaping, Heirloom Gardening in the South, and The Rose Rustlers. You can read his “Greg’s Ramblings” blog at arborgate.com, read his “In Greg’s Garden” in each issue of Texas Gardener magazine (texasgardener.com), or follow him on Facebook at “Greg Grant Gardens.” More science-based lawn and gardening information from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service can be found at aggieturf.tamu.edu and aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu.
