Abutilons are popular shrubs in NZ owing to their impressive flowers and lush foliage. They are generally trouble free, easy to grow, and very rewarding. Their versatility for growing in pots, for hedging, and including in mixed plantings makes them well sought after. Follow our tips to get the most from your plants.
This series of articles answers many of the frequently asked questions about Abutilons.
Abutilon palmeri, also known as Palmer's abutilon is native to the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It is a semi-evergreen shrub reaching 1-2.5 m tall and 60 cm-1.5 m wide. Some of its key characteristics include:
Yes, Abutilon flowers are edible! They are part of the mallow family, which includes other edible flowers like hibiscus. They have a mild citrus flavour with a hint of sweetness, sometimes described as similar to lettuce. Their vibrant colors and delicate texture make them a beautiful addition to salads, cakes, pastries, and even tea. You can use whole flowers or separate the petals for individual decoration.
Climbing Abutilon, also known as Trailing Abutilon or Chinese Lantern, is a beautiful flowering plant that is perfect for trellises, pergolas, or walls. There are a few different species of Abutilon that can be grown as climbers, but the most common is Abutilon megapotamicum. This plant has long, arching shoots that can grow up to 3 metres (10 feet) in length with green foliage.
Climbing Abutilon is a relatively easy plant to care for. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil. Water regularly, especially during hot weather, but be careful not to overwater. Fertilize monthly during the spring with shrub fertiliser.
Abutilon plants are generally propagated from cuttings. To propagate them from cuttings, take cuttings in spring or summer and plant them in a moist, well-drained potting mix. They will need to be misted and placed on bottom heat to improve the chances of success.
Encouraging an Abutilon to flower requires providing the plant with the appropriate conditions to stimulate flowering. Here are some essential factors to consider:
The flowers of Abutilon megapotamicum are edible. They can be enjoyed raw or cooked. Some sources recommend them raw for a sweeter taste, while others suggest cooking brings out a more savoury flavour. They are described as having a pleasant, mild sweetness, sometimes compared to lettuce.
The list of Abutilon plants, (Chinese Lantern Plants) that The Plant Company has worked on, propagated, and marketed is extensive. Our database of Abutilon varieties is listed below:
Abutilon flowers are associated with several symbolic meanings:
Abutilon, also known as Chinese Lantern, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the world, but many species have been cultivated and introduced to other areas, including New Zealand. Abutilon plants are known for their beautiful bell-shaped flowers, which come in a variety of colours, including red, orange, yellow, pink, and white. They can be grown as shrubs, vines, or trees, and they make a great addition to any garden.
Abutilon has a few common names, depending on the context:
Abutilon is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, with a high diversity of species in South America. Some species of Abutilon are also native to Asia, Africa, Australia, and North America.
The Plant Company have produced this series of articles to provide advice for trimming Abutilons so you can manicure your plants with confidence and success.
Abutilons are generally trimmed each winter to contain growth and encourage fresh, new growth. The Plant Company recommends they are trimmed each year to the size you are after and allowing for 50-100 cm of extension growth. You can be as aggressive as you want as the plants will sprout new buds from healthy stumps. Any dead stems should also be removed at this time, along with stems that show disease.
A mistake often made is to not prune the plants hard enough. This error generally results in a woodier plant and a much larger plant that can be difficult to contain. Abutilons are very forgiving plants and even if you get the trimming wrong, they will recover!
Planting an Abutilon and getting them to grow well is generally easy when you get a few of the basics right. This involves planting them in the right soil type, choosing the most ideal planting position, selecting the best variety, and ensuring the plants have the essentials to thrive. The Plant Company has the right advice to ensure success when you are growing Abutilons.
Abutilon plants grow well in pots. When choosing a pot, select one that is large enough to accommodate the plant's root system and ensure the pot has drainage holes. Dwarf Abutilons are well-suited to being grown in a pot, though other varieties can also be successfully managed with increased trimming.
Abutilon plants need regular watering, especially during summer. Water the plants deeply, but let the soil dry out slightly between waterings. Be careful not to overwater the plants as this can lead to root rot. A general rule is every second day during summer, once a week during spring and autumn, and once a month (if at all) during winter.
Choose a full sun position with good drainage and moderate shelter for your Abutilon plant. The hole should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. A good planting spade makes this job a lot easier. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread a low phosphate blend onto the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.
Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag or container, especially for larger grade plants, to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. If the roots have been growing in a circle or are all bound up you can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. Similarly, you don’t need to remove any of the growing media. The Plant Company does not recommend cutting the roots, even if the plant is root-bound as this offers no benefit. This is explained in our article, Managing Rootbound Plants.
Now place the plant in the hole and make sure it is level with the soil surface before filling in around it. If it is sitting above the soil surface, dig more out. If it is below, put in more soil and retest the level. Once the plant is set level with the soil surface, add more soil gradually and firm it around the plant using gentle pressure from your fingers as you go. Scatter shrub fertiliseracross the soil surface after planting and the give the plant a good watering. If the plant is taller than 30 cm you might want to consider staking it to give it a bit of extra support and use tree ties for secure and appropriate holding.
The best growing conditions for Abutilon are:
With proper care, your Abutilon plant will thrive and produce beautiful flowers for many years to come.
Abutilons, while generally easy to care for, can be susceptible to a few common pests and diseases. Some of the common issues include:
Each of these issues is easily controlled with an insecticide or fungicide that states it will control the particular pest or disease.
The best time to plant Abutilon in New Zealand is anytime through autumn, winter, and spring. This will give the plant time to establish itself before the heat of summer arrives.
The best place to plant an Abutilon is in a sunny or partially shaded spot with well-drained soil. Avoid planting them in full shade as this will reduce flowering. The site should also have moderate shelter as strong winds can break branches. If you are growing Abutilon in a pot, choose a pot that is large enough to accommodate the plant's root system and has drainage holes.
Providing the best fertiliser for an Abutilon is important to ensure the plants thrive. The correct fertiliser depends on whether the plant is grown in a pot or in soil, and getting this wrong can be disastrous for your plants. Our articles provide the best advice about fertiliser for Abutilons so you can achieve the amazing results you are after.
Abutilons grown in containers require different fertiliser to those grown outdoors in soil. In this instance the correct fertilisers to use are either the container plant fertiliser or fertiliser tablets. Each of these will provide safe, sustained, and complete nutrition to the plant for the next 12-months. Using other types of fertiliser can be detrimental to the plant and may result in plant injury or death.
Abutilons are vigorous plants that require feeding to keep them growing optimally. The Plant Company’s shrub fertiliser has been blended to give plants an initial boost and then sustained nutrition for 12-months. We recommend the fertiliser is applied to the soil surface in spring just as the plants start to grow actively. More importantly, we advise that no fertiliser is placed in the hole at planting, but rather spread around the soil surface so it can wash through the roots as it releases. This fertiliser ensures that nutrients remain in the soil around the plant rather than being lost through the soil profile to where the plant cannot reach it. This also applies to plants grown on sandy soils. This shrub fertiliser is therefore very environmentally friendly and longer lasting than most other products in the market.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if shrub fertiliser has been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush.
Fertilise Abutilon plants in spring and again in late summer with shrub fertiliser. The Plant Company does not recommend adding fertiliser during winter as the plants are either dormant or growing slowly at this time.
Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.
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