Abutilon Varieties

Commonly known as flowering maple or Chinese lantern, plants in the Abutilon genus are not from China and aren't related to the maple. Part of the same family as the hibiscus, these evergreen shrubs originated in tropical regions of South America. Abutilon blooms come in two types: broad, open flowers or dangling, bell-shaped blossoms. Several varieties are widely grown in the western states, and flower shades include white, yellow, orange, pink and red. White- and yellow-flowering shrubs bloom almost continually.

Abutilon Hybridum

Abutilon hybridum is a catchall for many abutilon cultivars, the best known of the flowering maples. "Nabob" produces maroon blooms that measure 3 inches across and has won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. A drooping-flower variety, "Bartley Schwartz" features a nearly constant show of salmon-orange blooms. "Apollo" sports broad, yellow flowers on a bush with an upright growth habit that can reach 10 feet. The colorful "Souvenir de Bonn" displays soft orange blooms veined with red, and its leaves are edged and splashed with a creamy white. All of these cultivars are recommended for U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 8 to 10.

Abutilon Megapotamicum

A vigorous grower to 10 feet, Abutilon megapotamicum can mimic a vine, weaving through other shrubs planted near it. Training it to an informal espalier is a smart idea and can help you corral it. The flowers resemble hanging lanterns, usually yellow or red. "Variegatum" has foliage mottled with yellow. This species thrives in USDA zones 8 and 9.

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Abutilon Palmeri

Indian mallow or desert mallow (Abutilon palmeri) loves full sun. Relatively compact, it seldom tops 6 feet. Growing in USDA zones 9 and 10, desert mallow bears large orange blooms, similar to poppies, throughout the warm season. Its foliage is perhaps the most unusual for a flowering maple. Grayish, heart-shaped leaves feel like velvet when you touch them.

Uses for Abutilon

Many of the hybrids, as well as Abutilon megapotamicum, can be trained over trellises and arbors. If the plants grow dense enough foliage, a row of them might also form a privacy screen. A vining variety also works well in a hanging basket. All abutilon species provide nectar for hummingbirds and attract adult butterflies. Finally, the desert mallow can climb a stone wall, if positioned against it.


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