Turk's cap grows rapidly and can reach 4 to 6 feet high and wide with profuse red blooms spring through fall. It's adaptable to a variety of soil types and is very heat and drought-tolerant once established. Plants may bloom better in full sun, but the foliage will suffer; morning sun and afternoon shade is perfect in our area. In fact, Malvaviscus is one of the few perennials that blooms reliably in shade.
In mild winters the plant will be evergreen. It may die back after a hard frost but is root hardy. Prune hard in late winter/early spring. Plants can become somewhat leggy, so cut back by one-third to one-half as needed to encourage denser growth.
Very attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies, Turk's cap is actually a butterfly host plant. Few disease problems but watch for aphids or whiteflies. Turk's cap has bright red flowers, but other varieties bloom pink or white. All in all, an excellent choice to brighten a shady place.