Plant Profile, Culture and Propagation :
Botanical Name: Abutilon megapotamicum; Abutilon vexillarium
Common Name: Flowering Maple, Trailing Abutilon, Brazillian
Bell-flower, Chinese Lantern
Family name: Malvaceae
Plant type: An ornamental perennial viny shrub originating from
Brazil and Tropical America.
Light: Full sun to light shade. Preferably morning sun and sheltered
from the strong afternoon sun.
Moisture: Regular water, though can be quite drought tolerant once
well established. However, not too dry as it can cause leaves to dry
and wilt.
Soil: Well drained, light (mix of sand and loam) and fairly fertile.
Propagation: From semi-hardwood cuttings. Can also be grown from
seeds.
Features: Abutilon megapotamicum is an evergreen or semi-evergreen
shrub growing between 4-8 feet tall and as wide. It’s also known as
Trailing Abutilon with its narrow and arching stems that are both
delicate and graceful and covered with bright green foliage. Leaves
are about 2-3.5 ins. long, ovate and tapering, plus mildly 3-lobed
resembling maple leaves, hence commonly called Flowering Maple. This
vine has buttery-yellow 5-petalled flowers that emerge and droop
from the distended brilliant-red calyces. The petals will age to a
lovely apricot before falling. It has a dark red central column with
numerous yellow stamens that mature to dark brown, protruding about
0.5 inch from the yellow petals. These pendulous and lantern-shaped
red-yellow flowers about 1.5-2 ins. in overall length are really
eye-catching!
Care: Prune to remove unwanted growth, keeping it compact or to
promote bushiness. Once a month fertilizing is sufficient, otherwise
heavy feeding will induce more foliage at the expense of flowers!
Watch out for white flies and mealy bugs as Abutilons are
susceptible to them and give them a preventive spray of pesticide
occasionally.
Usage: Chinese Lantern or Abutilon megapotamicum will be excellent
in any perennial border, or on trellises in any garden, patio or
conservatory. As a fast growing vine, it’ll add color to your fence
or screen or even as an espalier to decorate and brighten a barren
wall. For container gardening, it’ll look great in a hanging basket. |
