Corynabutilon vitifolium

RHS Plant Profile

Chilean tree mallow

Synonyms

Abutilon vitifolium

Shrubs

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Fast-growing, large, deciduous shrub about 5m tall, with grey-felted shoots, and 3-5 lobed, vine-shaped, softly grey-hairy leaves to 15cm long. Produces long-stalked, saucer-shaped, pale to deep mauve flowers, late spring to midsummer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–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): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Malvaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Spreading branched
Genus: A genus of exotic-looking flowering trees or shrubs with vine-like, lobed furry green foliage and hibiscus-shaped pale mauve, ocassionally white flowers
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: C & S Chile

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. For greenhouse or conservatory cultivation grow in a container of peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full light

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring or greenwood cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Patio and container plants
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 1 or Pruning group 6

Pests

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

Diseases

Generally disease-free