Plant care & info

Family: Malvaceae

Genus: Abutilon

Common Names: Flowering Maple, Chinese Lantern (not to be confused with Physalis), and Indian Mallow.

Species originate from South or Central America, Australia, and Africa.

May – September.

Exposure: Enjoys light shade to full sun.

Watering: Provide plenty of water, especially on the hottest summer days. Requires good drainage.

Fertilizing: Fertilize once a week during the growing season to extend the bloom period.

Maintenance: Plants can be pruned to a desired shape or cut back hard in early spring to control size.

Over-wintering: In the Portland climate, these are mostly grown as annuals, but they can be over-wintered in a protected spot like a porch or brought inside during colder months.

Outdoors: Susceptible to aphids and slugs.

Indoors: Can be affected by whiteflies, spider mites, scale, and mealybugs.

Common Diseases: Root rot, rust, and leaf spot.

Prevention: Ensure good air circulation, keep leaves dry, and use fungicides or insecticides if necessary.

Along with its beautiful color, its flowers attract hummingbirds and other beneficial insects to your garden. The flowers are also edible, sweet with a mucilaginous texture. While mostly grown as annuals in the Pacific Northwest, some varieties are more cold-tolerant. Over-wintering your Abutilon can result in a bigger, more vigorous plant the following year.

Explore More Flowering Maples

Abutilon Megapotamicum

Red flowers with yellow petals and purple anthers; blooms summer to fall. Grows 6′ tall with an almost vine-like habit. Hardy to 10-15°F.

Abutilon x Suntense 'Violetta' (Abutilon vitifolium)

Lavender flowers with soft bluish leaves. 4-8′ tall x 5′ wide. Can be over-wintered outside with slight protection.

Abutilon 'Apricot'

Showy pendant, bell-shaped apricot flowers with red sepals; blooms all season. 5′ tall x 4′ wide.

Abutilon 'Challo'

Pendulous deep golden ruffled flowers with broad dark maroon eyes; blooms all season. 5′ tall x 4′ wide.

Abutilon 'Julia'

Pendulous yellow flowers; blooms all season. 3′ tall and wide. Full to part sun (Zones 8-10).

Abutilon 'Nabob'

Black stems with deep red flowers; blooms all season. 3′ tall x 3′ wide.

Abutilon 'Lucky Lantern Red & Yellow'

A dwarf variety growing 12” tall and wide. Full to part sun; flowers from spring to frost (Zones 8-11).

Abutilon 'Red Princess'

Large 1 ½“ scarlet red bells; late spring to frost. Fast growing to 3′ tall and wide. Requires full sun and good drainage (Zones 8-11).

Abutilon 'Red Tiger'

Pendulous golden flowers with red veins. Tall narrow variety perfect for training into a tree. Grows 2-4′ in a single season. Full sun to part shade (Zones 8-10).