Plant ID card |
|
|---|---|
Botanical name |
Abutilon sp. |
Common name |
Abutilon, Chinese lantern, living room maple. |
Family |
Malvaceae. |
Origin |
Tropical regions. |
Dimensions |
1 to 3 m, depending on the species. |
Foliage |
It can be persistent or semi-persistent. The leaves are simple or palmate-lobed (3 to 7 lobes), and reminiscent of those of the maple. They can display different shades of green, or even be variegated with yellow. |
Bloom |
It extends from May to October, and offers bell-shaped or cup-shaped, long-pedunculated flowers. The flowers can be pink, red, orange, yellow, white, or even blue. The stamens, clearly visible, are also colorful. |
Fruiting |
Capsules containing seeds. |
Exposure |
Sun, partial shade. |
Ground |
Fresh, well drained, rich. |
Rusticity |
-5 to -10°C. |
Just like hibiscus, the
Abutilon
genus belongs to the Malvaceae family.
It has around 150 species, but only a few are cultivated in temperate climates.
Rather chilly, it settles in the ground in regions with mild winters, in the south of France or on the coast.
Where to place an abutilon?
The plant's habit varies depending on the species: abutilon is therefore suitable for many uses.
With its creeping habit,
Abutilon megapotamicum
forms a superb ground cover.
It can also adopt a climbing habit if it is trained against a wall or fence.
With their erect or spreading habit,
Abutilon vitifolium, Abutilon pictum
and
Abutilon x hybridum
are superb
in clumps or alone.
Installed in a pot, Abutilon brings color to a balcony or terrace.
Abutilon thrives in
rich, fresh but well-drained soils
.
It can be installed in the sun, but fears scorching exposure.
Install it sheltered from strong winds, but avoid confined locations.
Abutilon can also adopt a climbing habit if it is trained against a wall or fence.
Copyright (c) 2019 Jerry Lin/Shutterstock.
No use without permission.
When and how to plant an abutilon?
Plant abutilon
in spring, in April or May:
Dig a hole approximately 3 times the size of the rootball;
Place gravel at the bottom of the planting hole;
Place the shrub;
Fill with earth mixed with a little sand and ripe compost;
Pack and water copiously.
To
plant the abutilon in a pot,
choose a perforated container of at least 40 cm in diameter.
Place a draining layer (gravel, clay balls, etc.), then use a mixture of garden soil, potting soil and compost.
How to maintain an abutilon?
In the open ground
Water regularly during the flowering period;
Bring in compost in fall;
If necessary, use a fertilizer for flowering plants during growth;
Regularly train the branches for
A. megapotamicum.
Pot
Water copiously in summer, reduce water supply in autumn and spring;
In winter, just make sure the root ball doesn't dry out;
Offer it fertilizer for flowering plants every 15 days during the summer;
Repot it every year in spring, in a slightly larger pot and in new substrate.
How to prune an abutilon?
Prune your abutilon every year in spring,
before flowering: it takes place on the year's wood.
Remove dead or misplaced wood, and aerate the heart of the shrub.
Cut the stems by a third.
As they grow, pinch the tips of young shoots to encourage branching.
Prune your abutilon every year in spring, before flowering.
Copyright (c) 2022 Burhan Oral GUDU/Shutterstock.
No use without permission.
How to store an abutilon in winter?
Protect your abutilon in the ground by covering its base with good mulch.
You can also cover the aerial parts with a winter veil.
Abutilon can lose its leaves in cool temperatures.
If frost has damaged it, practice severe pruning at the end of winter.
If the temperature regularly falls below -5°C in your area, it is best to grow your abutilon in a pot.
So you can
winter it in
a cool, bright room
, a greenhouse or an unheated veranda.