Turk's Cap

Malvaviscus arboreus

Malvaceae (Mallow)

A shade-tolerant native that feeds hummingbirds all summer — and the small red fruits are edible.

Texas nativeEdiblePollinatorPart shadeDrought-tough

Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus) illustration — Texas Roots plant database, by Jordan Polasek

Sun

Part shade to sun

Water

Low

Soil

Tolerant

pH

6.0–7.5

Hardiness

Hardy native perennial

Height

2–5 ft

Spacing

3 ft

Days to harvest

Established

What it is

Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus) is in the Malvaceae (Mallow) family. A shade-tolerant native that feeds hummingbirds all summer — and the small red fruits are edible.

How to grow it

It wants part shade to sun, water it low, and give it tolerant soil. Target a soil pH around 6.0–7.5. Space plants about 3 ft apart. Expect roughly Established. Hardy native perennial.

How it's used

Turk's Cap is used: fruit fresh; flowers in tea.

🔎 How to identify it

Soft maple-like leaves
Red turban-shaped flowers that never fully open
Small red applelike fruit

Edibility

PartsFruit and flowers

UsesFruit fresh; flowers in tea

CautionMild and edible; mainly a wildlife plant.

🌤 Before you plant: check the live 7-day garden weather to time it right for frost and heat.

Part of the free Texas Roots plant database, compiled by Jordan Polasek from his greenhouse in El Campo, Texas. Free to read and share. If it helped, the best thanks is to grow something.