We are new to Texas, 1 year ago almost exactly. It's been really interesting and challenging to learn how to grow here. Some successes, about an equal number of failures.
We have an area in the front yard with a stand of old, old oaks, surrounded by a hedge of ligustrum. There is a small, red bloom that pokes it's little head through this hedge, I see it when I mow, and I've identified it at my local Calloway's as TURK'S CAP.
Charming. It cannot be moved, it is so entwined with the hedge that it would not survive. Has anyone any information on propogating it from cuttings? I would try that.
Thanks in advance!
Caroline
Arlington, TX
Turk's Cap
Welcome to Texas! It's very easy to propagate Turks Cap. Take a 6" cutting, make sure to snip off the flower if there is one, dip it in root hormone powder and stick it in a pot (or right in your garden bed). Try several cuttings in case they don't all take.
Hello Caroline, and welcome to Arlington Texas.
Turk's cap is very easy to propagate, take cuttings with 3 or 4 leaf nodes from the firm area of the branch, not the woody part and not the very soft part making the cutting just below a node for the lower part, and about 1/3 of an inch above the node for the top part.
Remove all leaves except the top one, and insert the cutting in a little pot, four inch pots are fine, being sure to have at least one or two nodes into the soil, firm the soil around the cutting, water well, and put it in the shade, but where it can get light, no direct sun.
Water once or twice a day, in this heat I would say twice, and with a little luck, your cutting will be rooted in about 3 weeks.
Here is my recipe for the cutting soil mix.
http://davesgarden.com/community/blogs/t/frostweed/4101/
I hope that helps.
Josephine.
Thank you both for taking time to give me some information. I shall get the rooting hormone powder either tomorrow or Thursday. I am excited to think that it might be this easy!
The flowers are so dainty and yet the color is so stunning.
Thanks again!
babesy, welcome to DG. You will just love it here! More info than you can imagine, so many smart gardeners that just love to tell you everything you need to know about all plants.
& my 2 cents on Turk's cap is that it also comes in pink & white!
:~)
Or, if you want some more Turk's Cap...I have a million, little plants coming up, everywhere in my yard..you are welcome to come and get some.
Good luck! Keep us posted with your blooms!