Abutilon 'Estella's Little Bird'
An evergreen shrub, to around 2m high, with slender arching stems and bright green leaves with three narrow pointed lobes. Pendent flowers, with flared yellow petals, reddish calyces and dark red protruding stamens, are produced along the young stems from summer to early autumn
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Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
1.5–2.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
Spring | Green | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Summer | Yellow Red | Green | ||
Autumn | Yellow Red | Green | ||
Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- 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
Unresolved
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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