Mystery (to me) plant

[Anniekay]

The flowers on this plant are actually true red. My old device doesn't have much of a camera. It's growing in quite dry shade under the tree canopy and can't take more than morning sun in my zone 9a climate.

I got it as a tiny bedding plant (2" pot) in 2021, at the Ace Hardware Store. It was the only one on the display rack out front that was still alive, so I had to have it !!.

It blooms spring to frost, doesn't die back in winter here, just stops flowering, and has spread to cover approximately a 2' square area in the shade garden.

Can anyone tell me what you call it?

 

[Meadowlark]

I have something similar that I call "Bishop's cap". The leaves look the same as yours.

@Tetters is the best I know about nailing the Identity of plants...maybe she will get this one.

 

[Tetters]

It's Malvaviscus, or commonly known as wax mallow. I haven't seen it grown here, but it has medicinal uses, and is edible so I understand. I think it's tropical and grows also in Thailand.

 

[Anniekay]

It's Malvaviscus, or commonly known as wax mallow. I haven't seen it grown here, but it has medicinal uses, and is edible so I understand. I think it's tropical and grows also in Thailand.

Oh yay!! Thank you Tetters. People always ask me what the name of it is and now I can actually tell them .

 

[Tetters]

As a point of interest (maybe) I was reading about this plant earlier, and evidently it is also sometimes known as ''Turks cap'' which is very similar to @Meadowlarks ''Bishops cap''

 

[Meadowlark]

They look very similar to me also but not a perfect match which is why I recommended an @Tetters call.

 

[Anniekay]

"Whateveryacallit" is my nickname for it.

It's such a happy spreader I just wish I could get more in other colors. The foliage stays very healthy and seems unattractive to bugs, slugs and disease. What else could anybody ask for, really !! Thanks everyone !!

 

[Meadowlark]

The similarities are quite remarkable to me.





The above left is internet photo of Turk's cap. The one next to it is my "Bishop's Cap". I honestly can't tell the difference now.

 

[Anniekay]

The similarities are quite remarkable to me.


View attachment 1164 View attachment 1165


The above left is internet photo of Turk's cap. The one next to it is my "Bishop's Cap". I honestly can't tell the difference now.

Those do look identical, but my plant doesn't have " the droopies", it's just five petals with a very small yellow frill of (whateveryacallit) the thing that holds the pollen. Leaves are different on my plant too. * shrugs*.

 

[Tetters]

This is a picture of Mitella diphylla, or ''bishops hat'' which is a common name for the plant.

There is also a cactus that uses the name as a common one. That plant looks like this......
This is an Astrophytum myriostigma which does resemble the hat a bishop would wear.

This will be where the confusion lies between the two names, and @Meadowlark has the same flower as @Anniekay which is commonly known as Turks cap, and its name is Malvaviscus.
There really is a very good reason to use Latin plant names, as they don't lead to the confusion.
I really think you two have the same plant. Malvaviscus - commonly ''Turks cap''

I think I had better enrol as a trainee rocket scientist

 

[Anniekay]

To "all y'all (in Southern vernacular), I don't think that Meadowlark and I do have the same plant. Mine has no droopy part coming out of the middle.

 

[Tetters]

Ah ha!!! Is your plant more like this flower Annie? If so, I didn't see the first post clearly enough, because this one is called Ruellia elegans.

PS. I just decided that I'd better get some new glasses before enrolling for the rocket science course Not only that, I need one plant at a time to try and ID, because I'm getting very old now, and easily confused.

 

[Anniekay]

View attachment 1177 Ah ha!!! Is your plant more like this flower Annie? If so, View attachment 1178I didn't see the first post clearly enough, because this one is called Ruellia elegans.

PS. I just decided that I'd better get some new glasses before enrolling for the rocket science course Not only that, I need one plant at a time to try and ID, because I'm getting very old now, and easily confused.

You got it Tetters !!!

Ruellia Elegans is it !!
Thanks Tetters, and the rest of all y'all for working so hard to identify Ruellia Elegans !!
I think I'll nickname her "Rue".

 

[Tetters]

Yeah..... but Rue is a different one....... it's a herb. It can make you itch! How about Ellie - short for Elegans.
At least we know Meadowlark has a Malvaviscus.

 

[Meadowlark]

Just for fun, I asked AI if Turk's cap and Bishop's cap are the same plant. Here is the response:

Yes, Turk’s Cap and Bishop’s Cap are common names for the same plant, scientifically known as Malvaviscus arboreus12. This plant is also referred to as wax mallow or Texas mallow1. It is known for its bright red, tubular flowers that resemble a Turkish turban or bishop’s mitre, hence the names

 

[Anniekay]

Yeah..... but Rue is a different one....... View attachment 1180 it's a herb. It can make you itch! How about Ellie - short for Elegans.
At least we know Meadowlark has a Malvaviscus.

Oh no !! Can't go with Rue, then.

I shall call her Ruella Ellie Gans. Give her a proper name !!

 

[Tetters]

Just for fun, I asked AI if Turk's cap and Bishop's cap are the same plant. Here is the response:

Yes, Turk’s Cap and Bishop’s Cap are common names for the same plant, scientifically known as Malvaviscus arboreus12. This plant is also referred to as wax mallow or Texas mallow1. It is known for its bright red, tubular flowers that resemble a Turkish turban or bishop’s mitre, hence the names

Great, but surely using the Latin name is less confusing