NICE! Plant of the Month
(Malvaviscus Drummondii)
Family: Malvaceae
Other Common Names: Texas Mallow, Drummond’s Wax Mallow
Type: Big, large-leafed deciduous perennial shrub; woody only near its base.
Natural Habitat: From southern portion of the Texas Hill Country east to Florida and the West Indies; south into Mexico. Native in Southeastern U.S., and west to the Edwards Plateau.
Growth: Deciduous perennial shrub. It usually reaches a height of 2-4 feet during growing season, and freezes back in winter. Blooms from late spring until frost.
Deer Resistance: Considered deer resistant, but may be browsed where deer are densely populated.
Wildlife: Flowers are attractive to both hummingbirds and butterflies.
Light Tolerance: Shade, part-shade, dappled shade, but will grow in full sun.
Flowers: The common name comes from the unique whorl of bright red petals, resembling a fez.
Fruit: Red berrylike fruits that ripen in fall are eaten by a variety of birds.
Leaves: The soft, heart-shaped, tropical-looking leaves are velvety on the underside.
Water Requirements: Once established, will survive on 20-30 inches of water per year.
Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil; sand, loam, clay, and caliche.
Planting Instructions: Space plants 10 feet apart. Dig a hole at least two times wider than, but the same depth as the root ball in the nursery container. Sides of the hole should be irregular, not smooth. Remove plant from container, taking care to support the root ball. Loosen exterior roots gently with your fingers. If the plant is root-bound and cannot be loosened by hand, the outer roots may be cut in several places. Lift the plant by the root ball and place into the hole. Backfill hole, using soil that was dug out. Do not add any soil to the top of the root ball. Gently firm the soil with your hands, but do not tamp it down. Place 3-4 inches of mulch over the bare soil around, but not touching the base of the plant.
Watering Instructions after planting: Water deeply after planting to settle soil around roots. Then every 7-10 days, as needed, during the first growing season. Before watering, check for soil moisture at a depth of an inch or two at the edge of the root ball. Skip a watering after a rainfall of ½ to 1 inch. Maintain this watering schedule until the first fall. Reduce watering during the cool fall and winter months. In a “normal” year, no watering may be necessary during the fall and winter, but during a dry period, monthly watering may be needed. Second Spring and thereafter: Water monthly only during periods of drought
NICE! Tip: Use Turk’s Cap to provide summer color as an accent plant or mass planting, especially under shade
Look for the NICE! Plant of the Month signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating Boerne nursery. And thank you for supporting native plants by using them in your landscapes.
