Turk’s Cap commonly called Sleeping Hibiscus or Pepper Hisbiscus originated from Central America and Texas and is a member of the Malvaceae family.
If you like hibiscus blooms but want something a little less ostentatious than that showy flower, then Turk’s Cap, a perennial bush, is perfect for you. The common name is derived from the fact that the flower bears a resemblance to the form of headwear known as a fez, once worn by men in Turkey.
Each red flower looks like the unopened bloom of a common hibiscus with stigma and stamens extending beyond the edge of the petals. The leaves are dark green and serrated at the edge, and the plant flowers throughout the year. It is also a magnet for butterflies and birds.
Turk’s Cap is a shrub which grows to approximately 6-7 feet in height and can grow higher, so prune it to keep it under control. It is fairly versatile, and doesn’t mind too much where it is in the garden – in sun or shade. However, it prefers well-drained soil, and will put up with a certain amount of drought.
While it can be grown from cuttings, it can also be grown from seed. If you want to try the latter, then you will have to pick a ripe, dark red fruit from the Turk’s Cap bush and let it dry out without troubling it. When it is wrinkled, then you can open the dried fruit by rubbing it between your fingers, and extract the seeds.
When you have decided where to plant your seeds, break up the soil and mix it with about two inches deep of compost. Then make furrows about ¼ʺ deep and sow the seeds, after which they should be covered with topsoil. Water them, and after they germinate give them a little water once a week.
Fertilize grown plants with Miracle Gro All Purpose once every two weeks.
Until next week, happy gardening
