Abutilon, known by the common name, Flowering Maple is part of the family of plants that include Hollyhocks, Rose of Sharon, and Hibiscus. It is called Flowering Maple because the leaves resemble a Maple tree leaf. They are most often sold as annuals and grown in pots in the garden. The flowers come in a range of colors and shapes.
In the past several weeks I had my small greenhouse remolded, and I wanted plants that would bloom during the winter months. I already had a pink flowering Abutilon with frilly edges, that has bloomed continuously since it was placed into the greenhouse in late October. I recently purchased three new ones to add to my collection of winter flowering plants. Abutilon doesn’t need a greenhouse to bloom and will do fine indoors in a sunny window. A cooler room is ideal for them during the winter months. The woody plants will grow two to three feet in a container. Over time, they might get a bit leggy and need pinched back to keep it bushy. Once mature, they tend to like to be root bound and will bloom better. Often the plants are cut back 25 to 40 % in late winter to encourage bushy plants with better flowering.
They flower in a range of color from white, pink, red, yellow, orange, and bi-colors. Some Abutilon have open flowers, while other varieties have flowers resembling lanterns. Some varieties have striking variegated leaves that are almost more attractive than the flowers. One of my favorite Abutilon is a variety called, ‘Voodoo’ with deep blood-red flowers. Another popular variety is ‘Red Tiger’ with yellow flowers and bright red veining! The flower is gorgeous and must be seen to fully appreciate its beauty. A new one I recently purchased is ‘Victorian Lady’ with fully double flowers resembling tiny roses.
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These easy to grow plants will add much needed color to your home during the bleak, gray days of winter. I’m excited to watch my three new Abutilon blooming in my greenhouse!
Be sure to listen to my podcasts, ‘In the Garden with Rick,’ at https://anchor.fm/in-the-garden-with-rick/ Watch for future podcast as we discuss more about our gardens.