Turk’s Cap ‘Big Mama’
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Characteristics
- Type: Perennial
- Zone: 7 – 10
- Height: 5 – 6 Feet
- Spread: 5 – 6 Feet
- Blooms: July to October
- Bloom: Red, Showy
- Sun: Full Sun(6+hrs) – High Shade(1-2 hrs)
- Water: Low (once established)
- Maintenance: Medium
- Fruit: Showy, Edible
- Attracts: Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
- Tolerate: Rabbit, Deer, Drought, Poor Soil
- Texas Native
- Texas Superstar®Plant
Culture
Turk’s Cap ‘Big Mama’ performs best with minimum of 4-6 hours of full sun per day. Plants are generally fuller and more floriferous in full sun. Site in areas protected from strong winds. Prefers moist soils, but has some drought tolerance once established. Cut back stems after this plant enters fall dormancy. Plants grown in full sun typically rise to 4-6’ tall. Showy, hibiscus-like, 5-petaled scarlet red flowers (to 2 3/4” long) bloom, usually in abundance, from mid-summer to first frost at which point Turk’s Cap ‘Big Mama’ plants will die to the ground in the nature of herbaceous perennials. Bloom may occur year round, however, in frost free climates. The flower petals twist and swirl around the extended pistil and stamens which protrude beyond the petal tips, thus giving rise to the common names of Turk’s cap and sleepy mallow since it resembles a hibiscus bud that doesn’t open. Flowers give way to marble-sized red fruits which are edible.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Malvaviscus is a genus of shrubby herbaceous hibiscus relatives that are native to the southern U.S., Mexico and Central America. ‘Big Momma’ is the result of a cross between Malvaviscus drummondii (Turk’s cap with upward facing 2” long flowers and winter hardiness to USDA Zone 7) and Malvaviscus penduliflorus (giant Turk’s cap with drooping 3” long flowers and winter hardiness to USDA Zone 9). The flowers of ‘Big Momma’ are produced in dazzling profusion on the upper leaf branches of fuzzy stems. They bloom heavily from summer through fall, providing essential nourishment to ruby-throated hummingbirds as they migrate south for the winter. This hybrid basically combines the excellent winter hardiness of the former with the larger flowers of the latter. It was developed and subsequently introduced into commerce in 2005 by Texan Greg Grant.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Japanese beetles and spider mites.
Garden Uses
Sunny landscape areas. Borders. Open woodland gardens. Grow as an annual where not winter hardy.