![]() ![]() It has violet mauve bell flowers that open wide - similar to the Canary Bird - and is a showy addition to a sun spot in the garden - or happy wandering over the top of a fence. The foliage (evergreen) is grey green and downy - not unlike that of the mallow family, for which it is often mistaken. Erect habit is sometimes a bit lax, but it will respond well to pruning as and when required. Does well in a permanent position at foot of sunny wall or fence, with low growing shrubs in front - protecting it through hard winters.Ībutilon x suntense - is a splendid small tree or large shrub, that will grow to 10 feet quite quickly. Foliage is normally evergreen: flowers hang from branches with red calyces and buds from which the yellow flowers emerge - but only a little! Flowers from late Spring through to first Autumn frosts. All will grow in a container if large enough.Ībutilon megapotamicum - Unusual in the group as it has a fully pendulous or trailing habit. Some of the variegated forms make good houseplants – or patio pot plants. Other than botanical detail that determines the family group, all of the flowers share the distinct central style (female) surrounded at the base by the pollen- bearing anthers (male).įlower colours of the various Abutilons range from deep red, through violet, pale pink and purest white. The common name of Flowering Maple describes the foliage rather than flowers, for the leaves are often fully palmate or at least 5-lobed as with many Acers or maples.Ībutilons are not maples, but belong to the same family as the mallows and Hibiscus – Malvaceae. Cuttings from all types are easy to root, and as precaution, cuttings should be taken and over wintered in a frost free environment, to ensure continuation for the following year. For most gardeners and gardens in temperate areas, they are shrubs.Ībutilons are sometimes evergreen, semi-evergreen or deciduous depending on variety and planting position.Īll types - even if stated to be hardy - should be grown in a sheltered place - preferably in full sun. Larger shrub type Abutilons such as the semi evergreen Abutilon suntense should be pruned in the main to tidy the winter damaged branches which are apt to break under the weight of snow - or in heavy winds (Not the best situation for growing them)įlowering Maples are generally small to large shrubs, but sometimes small trees owing to their ability to grow on single or multi stemmed central trunk. This is best done by pruning wayward branches back to a main framework. Wall grown Abutilons such as Abutilon megapotamicum should be pruned in early spring. ![]() The same single-stem treatment can be applied when Abutilons are grown as houseplant or conservatory speciments. This will encourage growths which can then be attractively trimmed into a narrow pyramid - especially effective for the variegated foliage types. If grown as a patio pot plant, and taken into protective care for the winter, the Abutilon can be pruned to shape either as a shrub or a single stem 'feathered' specimen.įor a single stem mini-tree, either prune off the laterals - AFTER regrowth has started in spring, or prune back all laterals to within 6in of the main central stem or trunk. This is a very happy plant if you keep it happy. ![]() This will not encourage new growth as there is nothing there, this will probably cause die back. If you just cut it back willy nilly, you may find you have cut too much off and there may not be a live node left on the branches. In the growing season avoid big pruning sessions, only trim it back 25% to 30%, you do not want to weaken the plant before winter. Trace it back to the main stem, approximately 6 inches away from the stem you will find the first leaf / node, make a cut just after the leaf / node or after any leaf along the line, depending upon how much you want to trim it down. Its lateral soft wood branches can be lengthy and can be pruned back almost to the main stem. The best tools for the job are the trusted secateurs. If it is not pruned correctly, it can cause die back and the flowers wont flourish the next season. Sorry to say, it needs a little more finess than that. It would be easy to say, just take the hedge trimmers to it and you will be fine. ![]()
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