Practical
Plants

Abutilon pictum

Abutilon

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Abutilon genus in the family Malvaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Malvaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
5 m
Spread
2 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Flowers - raw or cooked. A delicious sweet flavour[K]. The flowers produce nectar all the time they are open so, assuming the plant is grown indoors and is not visited by pollinating insects, the sweetness increases the longer the flower is open[K]. There are no edible uses listed for Abutilon pictum.

Environment

Range
S. America - Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Habitat
Cultivated as an ornamental plant, it is not known in a truly wild situation.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[1]. Germination should take place within a few weeks. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots. Grow them on for at least the first winter in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of young shoots, June in a frame[1]. Grow on in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant out in spring after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[1]. Grow on in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant out in spring after the last expected frosts.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a sunny position or part day shade in a fertile well-drained soil[1]. Dislikes drought[1]. This species is only hardy in the very mildest areas of Britain, being intolerant of temperatures that fall much below 0°c[4]. Plants are often deciduous in cold winters[3]. A deep mulch in winter and tying in growth to the wall will maximise protection in winter[1]. If the plant is cut back by cold weather, it can resprout from the base in the spring and can flower on the current year's growth[2]. A very ornamental plant, there are several named varieties[1]. Several of the cultivars have golden-variegated leaves caused by a virus infection, this infection can spread to other plants[4]. Tip-prune young plants to promote a bushy habit[1]. Older plants tend to get rather leggy, but can be cut back almost to the base in order to promote new growth. This is best done in late winter as the plant starts to come into growth[4]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[1].

References

  1. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  2. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

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  3. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

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  4. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

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