Knowledgebase

Turk's Cap Mallow - Malvaviscus drummondii appropriate for Virginia? #764764

Asked July 30, 2021, 10:14 AM EDT

I am considering this as a bush or hedge in Richmond, Va. However, I see conflicting information regarding the zones that it will live in. The seller states zone 7a or b. Other sites say to N.C. They may be speaking of different variations of this plant and if so, would you be able to recommend one that is suitable for 7a/b. Richmond seems to be either 7a or 7b. I am searching using the plant name as it appears above.

Henrico County Virginia

Expert Response

I am not familiar with this plant.  And at this time we do not have a perennial plant specialist in the VT Dept of Hort.  In looking a several extension websites for this plant, I too see some listings for zone 7 and others as zone 8 as the northern zone for the plant.  One extension website that I rely on often is that of North Carolina State.  They have the resource of the JC Raulston arboretum and they are obviously close to us and also have similar zones as Virginia.  They list it is a zone 8 plant.  https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/malvaviscus-arboreus-var-drummondii/ .  If you wanted to try it, I would plant it in a protected microclimate.  
Ed Olsen Replied July 30, 2021, 10:35 AM EDT

Loading ...