Short piece from Texas Parks & Wildlife:
Turk’s cap is a native Texas shrub that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and moths. This easy-to-care for plant is named for the shape of its small blooms. To learn more about Texas native species and habitats, see http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/
Must admit I was unaware it’s a Texas native, though Kathryn has had it in all of our Texas gardens. I love the blossoms. I wish our local hummingbirds loved it as much as the photo in the video shows, but we have other plants they love and a feeder. Butterflies like it, too.
Few other plants equal the intense red of the flowers. Turk’s cap requires less water than many less spectacular, non-native plants. Ours keep coming back year after year. What more do you want in a good garden plant?
I wish my photos were so good as those used in the film.
More, and related material:
- To add great summer color and beauty, look to hibiscus, althaea and Turk’s cap (miamiherald.com)
- Common Flowers in Texas (proflowers.com)
- Flying Flowers: The Beauty of Butterflies (showmeoz.wordpress.com)
- How to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden (proflowers.com)
- Small world: part 2 – mysteries of the lantana (natureofphotography.wordpress.com)
Posted by Ed Darrell 
Millard Fillmore's Bathtub 