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Description
common names: Indian mallow, Chinese lantern, Flowering maple.
Abutilons are most commonly grown as hardy flowering and evergreen shrubs, though there are also some ground cover species. The shrubs are covered in large deep green maple shaped leaves. The gorgeous hanging lantern like flowers are often seen on the plants all year round.
Plants are hardy. They will grow in full sun as long as there is moisture. In gardens with hot dry summers – such as Hawke’s bay- we recommend light shade or at least protection from hot afternoon sun. Bees and nectar eating birds enjoy the flowers particularly silvereyes and Bumblebees. Plants can handle hard pruning and will regrow quickly afterwards – this is best done in spring and summer.
Abutilon ‘orange hot lava’ has stunning golden orange flowers that hang beautifully from the dark green leaves. The leaves of this variety are smaller and a more elongated heart shape than the maple leaf shape of the larger varieties. The shrub is also much lower growing, usually only growing to 1.5 to 2 meters. One of my favourite woodland edge shrubs that can flower almost continuously.
- Ht: 1.5 to 2 meters
- Sun – part shade
- Fertile and free draining soil
- 1 liter pot
