5 named cultivars

shrub

Abutilon

The Story

Plant Bio

Abutilon x hybridum, or flowering maple, is a group of frost-tender evergreen shrubs of garden origin, grown two to four feet high in most gardens. The soft lobed leaves are maple-like but unrelated, and pendent bell-shaped flowers in red, pink, yellow or white hang from the leaf joints. It flowers in flushes rather than one season.

It is hardy only in zones 9 and 10, so almost everyone grows it as a container plant brought under cover for winter, where it will keep flowering in good light. Foliage wilts in full afternoon sun and the variegated forms scorch outright, so morning sun with afternoon shade is the safer position in hot regions.

Uses & Benefits:

Pendent bell flowers over soft maple-shaped leaves, carried in flushes across a long season.

A container shrub that can be overwintered under cover and kept for many years.

Nectar-rich hanging flowers are worked by hummingbirds where they occur.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

42 inches

Width

36 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

9, 10

Water

Medium

Humidity

Average to high

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Garden origin

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in rich, free-draining compost in a container.
Site in full sun to part shade, with afternoon shade where summers are hot.
Keep the compost consistently moist; it will not tolerate drying out.
Feed every few weeks through the growing season.
Pinch shoot tips in spring to build a bushier plant.
Move under cover before the first frost.

Pro Tip

Pinch the growing tips two or three times in spring; left alone it makes a few long, sparsely flowered stems.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Keep the compost evenly moist 💧
Feed regularly through the growing season 🌿
Pinch shoot tips to build a bushy shape ✂️
Bring it under cover before frost ❄️

Don't

Let the rootball dry out between waterings ❌
Leave variegated forms in full afternoon sun ❌
Expect it to survive frost outdoors below zone 9 ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Pinch
Protect

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Patio and terrace container specimenSummer bedding accent in beds and bordersConservatory or bright indoor plant

Companion Plants

Coleus Fuchsia Begonia SalviaSweet Potato Vine

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Abutilon questions

What zones can Abutilon grow in?

Abutilon is hardy in USDA Zones 9–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Abutilon deer resistant?

Not reliably. Deer may browse Abutilon, especially tender spring growth — plan on repellents or fencing where pressure is high.

When does Abutilon bloom?

Abutilon typically blooms in spring to fall in flushes through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Abutilon need full sun?

Abutilon does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.