Abutilon × hybridum

RHS Plant Profile

Chinese lantern

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Synonyms

Abutilon globosum
Abutilon grandiflorum misapplied

Shrubs

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An erect, spreading evergreen shrub or small tree to 5m high and 2m wide, with maple-shaped green leaves and bell-shaped flowers, in a range of colours including white, yellow, red or orange, from spring to autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Sand, Loam

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Sand Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid 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): H2

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Malvaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Columnar upright
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: Correct

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

City and courtyard gardens
Patio and container plants
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