Abutilon 'Fool's Gold'

RHS Plant Profile

abutilon 'Fool's Gold'

RHS / Joanna Kossak

Synonyms

Abutilon 'Fool's Gold'

Conservatory Greenhouse Shrubs

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An upright to spreading, semi-evergreen shrub to around 1.2m tall with lobed, toothed, dark green foliage. Nodding, dark-veined, orange flowers up to 6cm wide are borne from summer into autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or East–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): H2

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Malvaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: A genus of tender, subtropical, evergreen, woody flowering shrubs with a lax habit and pendulous, bell-shaped red, orange or yellow chinese lantern-like flowers
Name Status: Synonym

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass or indoors in a peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full light. When in growth water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly. Water sparingly in winter, keeping barely moist. Can be grown outdoors in warmer climates

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Wall side borders

Pruning

pruning group 9

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