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Native Plant Society of Texas

Turk's Cap

Malvaviscus arboreus

Other common name(s):

Wax Mallow, Bleeding Hearts, Mexican Apple, Manzanita

Family:

Malvaceae (Mallow Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

2
to
6
ft.

Spread

3
to
5
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Clay, Limestone, Well Drained, Moist, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Red

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Fruit, Nectar, Pollen, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals, Hummingbirds, Moths

Maintenance

Drought tolerant and grows in a variety of dry to moist soils. Although popular as a shade plant, NPSOT members have reported it growing in full sun with no supplemental water. Forms colonies, but easy to contain by pulling. Propagation: seed, clump division.

Comments

Blooms June-November. Tall, upright form. Leaves are downy-green, heart-shaped to 3-lobed, with broad toothed margins. Bright-red, hibiscus-like flowers never fully open, their petals overlapping to form a loose tube with the stamen protruding – said to resemble a Turkish turban. The fruit is a chambered berry. Larval host: White Skipper.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48, 53. 3) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 251. 4) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MAARD. 5) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=28151&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=21843#null, 7) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014., 8) https://rootedin.com/tough-texas-native-plants-for-shade-creating-a-cool-haven-before-the-heat/, 9) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malvaviscus_arboreus#:~:text=Texas%20and%20Louisiana.-,Habitat%20and%20ecology,M., 10) https://txmg.org/aransas/turks-cap-my-favorite-native/#:~:text=Turk's%20Cap%20has%20a%20sweet,plant's%20leaves%2C%20flowers%20and%20fruit., 11) https://www.ensembletexas.com/turks-cap-malvaviscus-drummondii/#:~:text=of%20the%20flowers.-,Source:%20iNaturalist,Place%20To%20Plant%20Turk's%20Cap?, 12) https://seedsource.com/turks-cap/

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Turk's Cap will germinate promptly from fresh, untreated seeds planted outside after danger of frost is past. Germination of Turk's Cap is inhibited by cold temperatures. Cover the seeds no deeper than 1/4 - 1/2 inches. Allow to dry whole and then crush the desiccated fruit with a rolling pin. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MAARD#:~:text=Propagation%20Material:%20Root%20Division%20%2C%20Seeds,inches%20after%20the%20last%20frost.
Stem Cutting The cuttings should be 4 to 6 inches long with leaves from the bottom halves removed, Dip the cut end in rooting hormone, and plant it in a well-draining soil mix. Keep the soil moist and place the cutting in a warm, bright location until roots develop. Take cuttings in the spring or early summer. 1) https://earthone.io/plant/malvaviscus%20arboreus 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MAARD#:~:text=Propagation%20Material:%20Root%20Division%20%2C%20Seeds,inches%20after%20the%20last%20frost.
Clump Division Large clumps of Turk's Cap may easily be separated in early spring and transplanted to a new site. Be sure to water well. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MAARD#:~:text=Propagation%20Material:%20Root%20Division%20%2C%20Seeds,inches%20after%20the%20last%20frost.

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason