It is good to frequent your local garden center or nursery as you never know what might be there. New or rarely seen plants may pop up to tickle your fancy or catch your eye. Once such plant that I saw recently is called Abutilon or Flowering Maple. The maple-like leaves are greatly over-shadowed by the whimsical flowers that dangle from the branches like jeweled shades. Often called Chinese lantern, these hibiscus family relatives – favored in the Victorian era – are still beautiful, unique, and available.
Abutilons are low-growing, somewhat brittle, woody shrubs growing no more than four foot tall and two-foot wide. They are not related to maples but are in mallow family which includes hibiscus and okra. The bell-shaped flowers do resemble hibiscus when you take a closer look, and come in shades of orange, yellow, red, pink, and colorful mixes. Pollinators such as butterflies are attracted to these up to three-inch wide pendulous flowers – even hummingbirds adore the upside-down blossoms. Beyond flowers, there are even variegated cultivars such as Abutilon hybridum ‘Variegatum’ sporting green leaves with yellowish abstract spots and splashes. This is an interesting situation where the variegation symptoms are caused by a mosaic plant virus called abutilon mosaic. While many plants are damaged by such viruses, this Abutilon coexists with this particular virus without harming it – just quirky ornamental color. They maintain this color when propagated by softwood cuttings but are all green when started from seed until a whitefly carrying the virus feeds on the plant and introduces the organism.
Abutilons will do best in mixed beds or borders as specimen plants either as a multi-stemmed shrubs or trained with a single stem giving it a more tree-like appearance. Flowering maples also excel as container plants – mixed with other plants, or as a single specimen – for patios and decks. They also do well work well in hanging baskets where they can best show off their downward hanging flowers. Grow flowering maple in full sun or partial shade in well-drained and evenly moist soil enriched with organic matter. Abutilons do not like to dry out, so watch the watering for best results.
There are named cultivars to look for which may be available on occasion. One called ‘Bella’ is very compact and provides a series of flower colors including apricot to orange, pink and deep red. ‘Bellvue’ Mix has large flowers in red, orange, and yellow. One called ‘Canary Bird’ has – of course – yellow flowers, while ‘Kirsten’s Pink’ displays soft pink flowers. Check around locally, and also check on-line sources for small mail-order specimens.
I had a flowering maple almost fifty years ago and remember it fondly. It had yellow flowers and I kept it indoors as a houseplant. Again, seeing is believing and once you spot this plant, you will want one of your own! For more information on all types of unique plants to grow in Southwest Florida, or to ask a question, you can also call the Master Gardener Volunteer Helpdesk on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer. Ralph E. Mitchell is the Director/Horticulture Agent for UF/IFAS Extension – Charlotte County. He can be reached at 941-764-4344 or ralph.mitchell@charlottecountyfl.gov. Connect with us on social media. Like us on Facebook @CharlotteCountyExtension and follow us on Instagram @ifascharco.
Resources:
Mahr, S. (2016) Flowering Maple, Abutilon spp. Wisconsin Horticulture – University of Wisconsin – Madison – Division of Extension.
Klingaman, G. (1999) Plant of the Week: Variegated Flowering Maple (Variegated Chinese Lantern Plant). University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture – Cooperative Extension Service.
Castro (2019) Montgomery County Master Gardener Volunteers. Must Have Abutilons. Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension System.
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