Question
Laura,

I live in Charleston, South Carolina and have a butterfly and hummingbird garden.  I have been astonished at the quantity of hummingbirds that flock to a huge, 6-foot-tall RED Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus Sp.) plant here that has been growing for many years.  It is also popular with butterflies, but less so.  This plant is a hummingbird "kitchen"!

Last fall I purchased three Turk's Cap that I did not realize were WHITE until I got home.  (I had no idea that Turk's Cap came in both colors white.)  Now is decision time; they have been in pots all winter and I need to decide whether or not to plant them.

I inquired at my local garden center and the plant buyer looked up in a reference book, "Red and White--Hummingbirds."  Then she said, you know, the hummingbirds are going to see the red better.  I don't know about the white Turk's Caps.

So my question is whether planting these WHITE Turk's Caps to attract hummingbirds will be a mistake, and whether I should give them away.

Your profile doesn't say anything about you being a butterfly or hummingbird expert, but any help you can give, I'll appreciate.

Thanks,
Jock Stender

Answer
Jock,
Turk's cap is the common name from a species of hybrid lilies called L.(lily)martagon.They do come in white,orange red and yellow.The white is called album and should have been on your plant or care tag when you bought it. It is impossible to tell what color of ANY flowering plant is if it isn't in bloom when you buy it. So if it was the nurseries mistake you should get your money back or at least get to choose another plant to replace them. If you bought them just for the hummingbirds and planted them in a different area and not beside the other red Turk's caps then no they probably won't be interested from afar because they are attracted to bright colors,but if you want to experiment,plant some of the white beside or among the red.You never can tell what mother nature has in store,until you try. If they are buzzing by the red ones and are that close to the white I would bet they would like it just fine if the nectar is good.They just go by sight until they reach their destination.And if you have many more flowers in your garden that attract hummingbirds,and you plant a white variety among them chances are the white
color will have no meaning to them,just the nectar.
If you do plant them,keep me informed on what happens.That is a very interesting gardening experiment that any bird loving gardener would love to know the outcome. Have a great spring,and I bet you will have many visitors to your garden!