Turk's Cap

This spreading shrub can grow up to 2-3 ft tall and sometimes as high as 9 ft. Its bright-red, pendant, hibiscus-like flowers never fully open, and their petals overlap to form a loose tube, with the staminal column protruding. This resembles the flower of a Turkish turban, which is why it is commonly known as Turk's Cap. It is instrumental in shady situations.

The plant is named after Thomas Drummond, a Scottish naturalist born in the late 18th century. In 1830, he traveled to America to collect western and southern United States specimens. He spent 21 months working the area between Galveston Island and the Edwards Plateau, collecting specimens from the Brazos, Colorado, and Guadalupe rivers. His collections were the first extensively distributed among museums and scientific institutions worldwide. He collected 750 plant species and 150 bird specimens. Unfortunately, he died in Havana, Cuba, in 1835 while making a collecting tour of the island.

Turk's Cap is drought-tolerant and prefers partially shady sites. It can adapt to and thrive in many different sites, including full sun and heavy soil, although too much sun can cause its leaves to become rougher, more minor, darker, and puckered.