Product Details
Colorful, solitary, bell-shaped blossoms dangle like jewels from our Abutilon Topiary, attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators. Abutilons are native to tropical and subtropical regions. They are commonly known as Flowering Maples for the shape of their leaves. Pot this one up on the patio or plant it in the garden. It will provide a long season of bloom and plenty of pollinator traffic. Shipped in a 10" nursery pot. Terracotta pot not included.
Abutilon is a large genus of flowering plants in the Mallow family (Malvaceae). They are found around the globe in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate parts of the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The genus contains herbaceous perennials, shrubs, and small trees, some of which originate in desert areas. As with their Hibiscus relatives, five-petaled flowers gather stamens in a distinctive central tube and are visited by hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Varieties known as Flowering Maples, popular as houseplants in Victorian times, are hybrids of several South American species. Most are hardy in Zones 8-10.
For more information on growing and care, click Growing Guide.
Shipping
HOW PLANTS ARE SHIPPED
The size of the plants we ship has been selected to reduce the shock of transplanting. For some, this means a large, bareroot crown. Others cannot travel bareroot or transplant best if grown in containers. We ship these perennials and annuals in 1 pint pots, except as noted. We must point out that many perennials will not bloom the first year after planting, but will the following year, amply rewarding your patience. We ship bulbs as dormant, bare bulbs, sometimes with some wood shavings or moss. Shrubs, Roses, vines, and other woody plants may be shipped bareroot or in pots. The size of the pot is noted in the quick facts for each item.
WHEN WE SHIP
We ship our bulbs and plants at the right time for planting in your area, except as noted, with orders dispatched on a first-come, first-served basis by climate zone. We also ship a wide range of containers and planters, tools, supplies, fertilizers, garden wear, garden decor items, as well as indoor decorations like wreaths and dried bouquets when available. Estimated dates for shipping are indicated in the green Shipping Details box for each item. Please supply a street address for delivery. Kindly contact us with two weeks notice, if you'll be away at the expected time of delivery.
OUR GUARANTEE
We guarantee to ship plants that are in prime condition for growing. If your order is damaged or fails to meet your expectations, we will cheerfully replace or refund it. Please contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-503-9624 or email us at [email protected]. Please include your order number or customer number when contacting us.
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Growing guide
Latin Name Pronunciation: ah-byu' ti-lon
Abutilon is a large genus of flowering plants in the Mallow family from tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates around the world. Varieties known as Flowering Maples have been popular patio and houseplants since Victorian times; most are hardy in Zones 8-10.
Light: Full sun to part shade. We recommend providing afternoon shade in warm climates.
Watering: Water regularly to keep soil evenly moist; do not let soil dry out completely. Flowering maples suffer in hot, dry locations and should be protected from drying winds.
Fertilizer: Abutilons are heavy feeders and heavy bloomers that will flower throughout the summer (perhaps taking a rest in the very hottest weather) into fall. To encourage plentiful flowers, apply a bloom-boosting water-soluble fertilizer such as 15-30-15 monthly, or every two weeks diluted at half strength, during the active growing season. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers.
Soil: When grown in a garden bed, Flowering Maples are undemanding, although they do best in rich soils. Well-drained soil is a must whether grown in a container or a garden.
Pests/Diseases: Outdoors, Flowering Maples are relatively pest-free. Indoors, watch for the usual houseplant pests: whiteflies, scale, aphids, mealybugs.
Seasonal Care: Abutilons bloom on new wood, so snip off spent blooms throughout the season to encourage reblooming and a bushy habit. They can be pruned heavily to keep plants in desirable form. In cold-winter climates, bring plants indoors before frost and place them in a bright, sunny spot in a cool room (temperatures in the 60s are ideal). Decrease water in winter, but do not let plants completely dry out, and do not fertilize. Set back outdoors after the danger of frost has passed in spring.
Growing Abutilon Standards:
A standard is a type of topiary that is a woody plant trained to a long, single stem. The stem can be crowned with bushy foliage and flowers at a determined height or, with fine-textured plants, a neatly clipped or loose globe. This arrangement is beautiful but requires a little extra effort on the part of the gardener to maintain.
Staking a Standard: To keep your standard standing, shelter it from strong winds and support it with a stake that has a diameter at least as large as the stem's. The stake should be long enough that, when plunged into the pot or the ground, it reaches just inside the foliage. Fasten the standard’s stem to the stake at several points with garden twine looped in a figure-eight around stem and stake. Check the ties periodically during the growing season and loosen them if they constrict the stem’s growth.
Pruning and repotting: Maintain the shape of the head with selective pruning and keep deadheading to promote new growth and flowering. Do not shear the plant as though it were a hedge. If you find that a standard in a container dries out quickly after watering, the plant probably needs a larger pot. Lift it from its current pot, make four deep vertical cuts in the root ball, and place it in a new pot that is 2-4" wider and taller than the old one, filling in around the root ball with fresh potting mix. Water thoroughly after repotting and give it time to recover in a protected spot.
