Family: Malvaceae

Turk’s cap is a  dense shrub with a spreading, upright habit. A relative of hibiscus, Turk’s cap blossom resembles a drooping, unopened hibiscus flower. It is a lovely ornamental that can be used as a culinary herb, in salads, and as a natural dye. However, it’s not often used in lei because the flowers stain clothing. An easy plant to propagate, take hardwood or softwood cuttings, dip in rooting hormone (although not necessary), and plant in a moist medium. 

Plant Uses:

• Container plant
• Cut flower
• Edible
• Hedge
• Lei flower
• Ornamental
• Privacy / screening

Plant Dangers:

• No dangers

High Risk Traits:

• Broad climate suitability (elevation 0-2000 m; USDA zones 8-11)
  
• Shade tolerant (tolerates partial shade)
  
• Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions
  
• Propagules dispersed intentionally by people
  
• Tolerates mutilation (frequent heavy pruning)

Low Risk Traits:

• Requires specialist pollinators (hummingbirds; flowers do not open)
  
• Not known to exist in the wild (only cultivated)
  
• Sparingly naturalized only in disturbed mesic sites
  
• No evidence of being a garden, agricultural, or environmental weed
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• No allelopathic or parasitic traits
  
• Palatable to animals (used as fodder)
  
• Non-toxic to animals or humans
  
• Produces no viable seed (fruit unknown; propagated by cuttings)
  
• No evidence of vegetative fragmentation or seed dispersal (wind, water, birds, animals)
  
• No persistent seed bank (no seed produced)