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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Malvaceae (w/Bombacaceae & Sterculeacea) |
| Origin: Brazil (South America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Red |
| Bloomtime: Year-round |
| Synonyms: [Hibiscus malvaviscus] |
| Height: 12-16 feet |
| Width: 8-12 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Malvaviscus arboreus (Turk's Cap) - This is a freely-branching shrub that can grow as large as 15 feet tall by 12 feet wide with slightly-lobed downy-green leaves and has showy flowers that have upright red petals that enclose all but the tip of the floral tube comprising the stigma and stamens. These brilliant blooms show for most of the year. Plant in full sun to light shade and irrigate occasionally. Hardy down to about 20 degrees F. A great large shrub that if left unpruned grows tall with well-spaced branches, giving it an open appearance but it can be kept much smaller and tighter with regular pruning and even make a nice tight hedge. Flowers are attractive to birds, butterflies and bees. Malvaviscus arboreus has an extensive range from the subtropical areas of southern Texas and Florida south through the cloud forests of Mexico through the Caribbean down to South America with several listed varieties but this form (var. arboreus) comes from southern Mexico and Central America. The name for the genus comes from the Latin words 'malva', meaning "mallow," and 'viscus' meaning "sticky" in reference to the sticky sap produced by members of the genus. The specific epithet is means tree and is a reference to how large this plant can grow. The central stamen and stigma column protrudes beyond the petals which remain closed and this look is thought to resemble a Turkish turban, leading to its most often used common name. Other common names include Sleeping Hibiscus, Wax Mallow, Drummond's Wax Mallow, Drummond Wax Mallow, Red Mallow, Texas Mallow, Mexican Apple, Bleeding Hearts and Manzanilla. We have grown this plant since 1981.
Information displayed on this page about Malvaviscus arboreus is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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