Climbing Abutilon. C20

Abutilon is a shrub native to Brazil, Guatemala and in general to all tropical American countries. It comprises about 90 species. The best known are: Abutilon pictum, Abutilon megapotamicum, Abutilon variegata, Abutilon hybridum, Abutilon vitifolium, Abutilon grandifolium.

This shrub belongs to the Malvaceae family, its scientific name is Abutilon striatum.

It is known vulgarly as Japanese lantern, Abutilon, Monacillo, Pelotazo. 

It is a shrub that looks like a bramble with flexible branches and does not grow more than 2 metres high. The leaves are deciduous, large, toothed and deep green. The flowers are bell-shaped and hanging, orange, yellow or carmine coloured.

It does not tolerate winter cold very well. The temperature should not fall below 13 ºC. It is a very hardy plant in mild, Mediterranean-type climates.

It is best planted in a well-lit area (no direct sun) and sheltered from the wind. Because of the bright colours of its flowers, it is best placed in front of other plants with dark, shiny foliage.

It is an undemanding plant in terms of soil type. It develops normally in a good substrate for indoor plants. The best time to transplant it is at the end of winter.

Watering should be frequent in summer and scarce in winter. During the flowering period, fertilise every 15 days with a mineral fertiliser dissolved in the water.

The best time to prune it is at the end of winter to stimulate its growth.

Propagation is by apical cuttings shortly before flowering takes place. The terminal part of a branch with 3 nodes is cut off in spring or late summer. They are planted in a mixture of peat and 50% perlite.