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Devil's Bouquet

Nyctaginia capitata

Last reviewed: November 2026

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Devil's Bouquet (Nyctaginia capitata)
Photo: (c) Joseph Aubert, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Toxicity unknown

Devil's Bouquet (Nyctaginia capitata) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

12"–36" H × 12"–36" W

Bloom

Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Native to

NM, TX

Pollinators

butterflies, bees

Before you buy

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Chihuahuan DesertsHigh PlainsSouthwestern TablelandsCentral Great PlainsEdwards PlateauSouthern Texas PlainsTexas Blackland PrairiesWestern Gulf Coastal Plain

Devil's Bouquet is a compact native perennial that produces small white to pink flowers in rounded clusters from spring through fall. This drought-tolerant plant forms neat mounds and goes dormant in winter, returning reliably each spring.

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How to care for Devil's Bouquet, by region

How to care for Devil's Bouquet where it is actually grown: year-round basics plus what to do each season, region by region, with the sources for each.

Care guidance last updated: October 2026

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Edwards Plateau (includes San Antonio, TX)

Year-round

Scarlet muskflower, also called devil's bouquet, is a low-water perennial with fragrant red flowers that likes sun, dry soil and good drainage.

  • Grows in sun or part shade.
  • Does well in dry sandy, gravelly, loamy or caliche soils.
  • Low water use. Water deeply, then let the soil dry out before watering again.
  • Stems reach about 1 to 3 feet, and flowers appear from April through November.
  • Bees and butterflies use the flowers for nectar and pollen. Deer resistance is listed as high.

It can be pruned for a bushier, tidier look, which suits a front-yard bed.

Fall

Fall bloom continues, and this is a good time to let seed form if you want more plants.

  • Flowers can last through November.
  • The Native Plant Society of Texas notes the plant is hard to find in nurseries, so letting it go to seed is a way to spread it in your yard.
  • Keep watering light. It is a low-water plant.

Winter

Winter care is simple: keep it on the dry side. The sources we found do not describe winter appearance, so watch your own plant.

  • Skip routine watering when the plant is not actively growing, since it is a low-water plant that prefers dry soil.
  • Avoid heavy mulch or soil that stays wet around the base.
  • Pruning for a bushier shape is allowed if you want it, per the Native Plant Society of Texas.

Spring

Spring is when blooming starts, so focus on good drainage and not overwatering.

  • Flowers can start opening in April.
  • Water deeply, then let the soil dry out between waterings.
  • If you want a bushier plant, prune it. The Native Plant Society of Texas says it can be pruned for that look.

Summer

Summer is the easy season for this plant. Keep water low and enjoy the evening flowers.

  • Flowers open in the cool of the evening and close in the next day's hot sun, so check them at dusk.
  • Water deeply but not often, and let the soil dry between waterings.
  • Sandy or gravelly soil that drains fast suits it better than heavy wet soil.
  • It keeps blooming through summer, since the bloom window runs April through November.

Sources: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Nyctaginia capitata, Native Plant Society of Texas: Nyctaginia capitata

In an HOA neighborhood

Devil's Bouquet is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.

Wildlife value

The long blooming period provides nectar for butterflies and native bees throughout most of the growing season.

Common questions

How much sun does Devil's Bouquet need?
Devil's Bouquet grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Devil's Bouquet bloom?
Devil's Bouquet blooms in April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November.
Where is Devil's Bouquet native?
Devil's Bouquet (Nyctaginia capitata) is native to NM, TX, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
What pollinators does Devil's Bouquet attract?
Devil's Bouquet draws butterflies and bees.
Is Devil's Bouquet HOA-friendly?
Devil's Bouquet is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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