Fall is a glorious time for maples as their leaves don their seasonal hues of red, yellow, and orange. If you watched the autumnal show of red and sugar maples, but bemoaned the fact that there was not room for such a large tree in your home landscape, take heart! There is a whole group of small, less well-known maples that deliver fall color and year-round appeal to even space-strapped gardeners.

Article first published on The How Do Gardener. Malvaviscus arboreus, commonly known as Turk’s cap, Turkscap, Turk's Turban, Wax Mallow, Ladies Teardrop, Scotchman's Purse, Bleeding hearts, or Mexican apple, is a member of the Malvaceae (Hibiscus) family. Malvaviscus is derived from a Greek word meaning "sticky mallow", and arboreus, refers to the tree-like appearance of a mature plant. It is a flowering perennial shrub, native to the Southeastern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America that typically grows to 3-4’ in height, but can reach heights of up to 8-10’ wit...