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ShrubsConservatory Greenhouse

Abutilon 'John Thompson'

An evergreen shrub, to around 2m high, with slender arching stems and bright green leaves with narrow pointed lobes. Pendent, open bell-shaped yellow flowers are produced along the young stems from summer to early autumn

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Malvaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Spreading branched
Genus: Abutilon can be evergreen or deciduous shrubs, trees, perennials or annuals, with simple or palmately lobed leaves and bell-shaped or bowl-shaped flowers often with conspicuous stamens
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Thrives in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny, sheltered position. Ideal for a protected warm wall or large conservatory. May need winter protection

Propagation

Propagate by softwood and semi-ripe cuttings at any time; hardwood cuttings in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Sub-tropical
Climber and wall shrubs
Conservatory and greenhouse
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 9; or pruning group 13 for wall-trained specimens

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly, glasshouse red spider mite, mealybugs and scale insects

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely) or a virus

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