Funky Florida Flora – Turk’s Cap Hibiscus

by theshrubqueen

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This is another volunteer in my garden, drafted into service to provide summer color in the unirrigated wilds of the garden. These tough shrubs just pop up here and there and once established are very difficult to get rid of. My neighbor’s Hibiscus keeps growing through the fence and after about 5 removal attempts, I gave up and began espaliering it to the fence instead of trying to get rid of it. Time will tell how that works out.

Most people call this Turk’s Cap Hibiscus (Malvaviscus penduliflorus), however, my favorite common name for this plant is Nodding Hibiscus. The shrub itself is a bit rangy looking, shapeless and branchy with light green foliage. The flowers make up for the green part, being prolific and attractive to pollinators and hummingbirds. Originally from Mexico, it has naturalized on the peninsula and is tolerant of South Florida’s extreme variation in precipitation. My Hibiscus thrive in partial shade with benign neglect, no fertilizer and roots in sugar sand (dare I call it soil, I think not)

I like to cut these for arrangements, they add a bit of draping over the side drama and last well in a vase, but you have to be careful not to knock the flowers off, the stems are somewhat delicate.

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18 comments on “Funky Florida Flora – Turk’s Cap Hibiscus”

  1. Jon Davis says:
    June 13, 2019 at 12:48 am

    This is a great vase, especially since you are using a not so loved volunteer.

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  2. automatic gardener says:
    June 13, 2019 at 12:10 pm

    I do like them in your vase. What are the milti-colored leaves?

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  3. Eliza Waters says:
    June 13, 2019 at 3:45 pm

    Pretty arrangement! It is interesting that these hibiscus flowers never fully open – they make pollinators work hard for their nectar.

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  4. tonytomeo says:
    June 14, 2019 at 4:36 am

    I like the name of nodding yucca. It sounds like something that would agree with anything.

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  5. Ann_Cherry says:
    July 21, 2019 at 4:40 am

    When I was a little girl, I was fooled to drink the nectar of Turk’s Cap Hibiscus.
    It was sweet. I was laughed at by other playmates and teased forever.
    Anyway, I once experienced how to become a butterfly. LOL
    This post is great. Reminded me of my childhood.
    You’re very creative:)

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