Abutilon x hybridum

A favourite Abutilon from the garden of Jill Fraumeni in Sydney

There are a number of species of Abutilon, but the ones seen in our gardens are generally hybrids. They are long-flowering soft-wooded shrubs usually growing to between 80 cm and 2 m tall, depending on the variety, with a similar spread. Known colloquially as Chinese lanterns (which the flowers do resemble), the hybrids are derived mainly from South American species. They prefer a mild to warm climate and are perfectly suited to Sydney gardens, and are quite resilient to our increasingly hot summers.

Abutilon from the garden of Carolyn Hughes in Sydney

Abutilon from the garden of Carolyn Hughes in Sydney

The colours of the flowers include white, yellow (both pale and vivid), orange, tangerine, red and various shades of pink. Flower shapes can vary from being quite tight to very flared and open. Some have calyces in a contrasting colour, which enhance the flower. There are a number of named cultivars, but few gardeners know the names of the ones in their gardens; they are usually referred to as 'the white one', 'the small orange one' etc. One very pretty small-flowered tawny orange one seems to have the name 'Copper Kettle'. One with green-and-white variegated leaves and a peach flower is called 'Souvenir de Bonn'; another, with gold-speckled foliage doesn't seem to have a cultivar name, to my knowledge.

Abutilon grown with Canna in the garden of Margaret Chedra in Sydney

Abutilon grown with Canna in the garden of Margaret Chedra in Sydney

In their natural environment, Abutilon grow in light shade on woodland fringes, so they are ideally suited to a part-shaded spot with some morning sun. They will also grow in full sun, though the flowers may get somewhat bleached, but they do not cope so well with full shade, where they can become straggly. They bloom over a long period: from early autumn to November in Sydney gardens. November seems to be the best time to prune them as they enter a quiescent phase for several months around that time.

White Abutilon from the garden of my mother in the Blue Mountains

White Abutilon from the garden of my mother in the Blue Mountains

They are prone to a nasty leaf-rolling caterpillar in summer which can defoliate a plant in just a few days. Use Dipel, Yates Success or pyrethrum for a low-toxic spray. I have found Yates Success to give pretty good results; it is based on a bacteria rather than a harmful chemical. You may need to apply these treatments a couple of times to achieve control. They can also be attacked by flea beetles, which can make many holes in the leaves. Neem oil may help to control them. Try a drench of neem oil around the plant at the end of winter to control the larvae.

Unusual tangerine Abutilon

Unusual tangerine Abutilon

Abutilon can get very woody after a while, and may need to be replaced with a fresh plant struck from a cutting. Older plants seem more vulnerable to pests. Cuttings taken in autumn or spring will take root easily if kept in a humid environment. Abutilons can be trained as standards: begin when the plant is young and has a single stem. I've seen some examples where a couple of different coloured versions and plaited together to give a rather impressive result.