I bought a Turk's cap plant this year just because I liked it and my hummer seems to like it. Then I read it was one of the Top 5 hummingbird plants. Anyone else have this plant and is it worth buying more of? It looks like it is not hardy in my zone so would have to replant every year. Just curious. Thanks guys.
Leslie
Turk's Cap for Hummers
I have them! I love that plant......do you have a pink one? The other thing I like about them, besides the hummer magnet, is that they will seed babies right by the mother plant and who doesn't like free plants?
I have not seen any pink ones fly girl. Those would be pretty. And I did not know that about seeding babies. I should be so lucky. I am seriously thinking about buying a couple more especially since you agree with me that they are hummer magnets. I usually have about three blooms a day on the one plant so more blooms would be great. The plant itself has really done well and looks great just not a lot of blooms yet. Thanks for that info and I will look out for a pink one.
Leslie
Leslie,
The turk's cap also spreads via the roots--it gradually expands, and in a few years you may think of it as invasive. I have plenty of seeds if you want some, and they are fast growers. The hummers love them, and so do the gulf fritillaries.
Mark
Lost, you can find the pink ones at Garden World. Also, they are hardy in Abilene. Just cut back the dead stems in the winter and it will come back from the ground and get bigger and bigger year by year. You will not have to replant it every year.
However, I think that the best hummer plant for this area would have to be salvia greggii. It will bloom much faster than the turks cap and will bloom from spring until frost. Still, plant a few turks caps, and give them plenty of room, because in three years they will be of substantial size.
This message was edited Jun 28, 2008 2:07 PM
Hi,, interesting .
I received seeds of the Turk's Cap and the directions said not to cut them back until spring. Because water will get down to the roots and rot them. Can't wait for mine to grow and feed my hummers.
Elaine
Elaine, I got a pink cutting when I was at Mollys RU, it has rooted, but still small. When it gets bigger, you can get a piece when you come down. : )
thanks Lucy, I think the pink one is what mom brought from Molly's. I had gotten seeds in the mail too.
BTW, mine are just kind of sitting and not growing. still green. I may move them to more sun.
Ok, I forgot she might have got one at Mollys, also. I'm sure glad mine made it, cause Molly's was so pretty. : )
Thanks for all the info guys. I did talk to a woman at Lowe's who said her Turk's cap took over and she hated it. She said it was a slow process though. I usually don't worry about stuff taking over in my gardens because they usually don't. LOL. However, this one has plenty of room to grow if it wants to. So far the favorite plant of my hummingbird is the agastaches. He just keeps going back to them day after day. Luckily I have about six of them. He is not picky about the color either.
Thanks for all advice. I just think the Turk's cap is an interesting flower so I am glad I added it to my garden. If the hummer likes it that is just icing on the cake.
Leslie