Plant of the Month: Abutilon (January 2026)

On Christmas Eve 2025, after enjoying a treat of delicious coffee and mince pies, we were shown Karen S’s very stunning red-veined Abutilon, growing extremely happily in the shade, on the north-facing side of the garden. Covered in glowing, pendulous, lantern-like flowers amongst its dark-green foliage , the shrub lit up the garden during those dark, December days.

This very healthy shrub with maple-like leaves, had been cut back hard some time ago and had grown very quickly. It was a cutting from Margaret T’s garden two or three years ago. Its growth was very impressive indeed. But before that, the cuttings originally came from North London some years ago, from a plant-lover’s garden. One Abutilon in this garden was seen growing happily as a tall shrub/small tree beneath a mature tree, thus receiving a fair amount of shade and protection, which I think is necessary, as Abutilon species originated from tropical and subtropical regions of South America.

Abutilons have a long-flowering period in London, in bloom from early-to-mid summer and again in early winter. Karen’s shrub is still flowering now in January, but the prolonged cold snap earlier this month has, naturally, affected it – not as upright as it was but still continuing to bloom, although the flower colour is no longer quite as vivid. Let’s hope it warms up and recovers quickly. I know how it feels!

These quick-growing, upright shrubs like a well-drained soil but apart from that they are not fussy and require minimum care – perhaps some yearly mulching and light pruning after the first flowering season is over if the shrub needs tidying and reshaping or reduced to fit within the framework of a small London garden.

Since seeing this evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub looking so vibrant and exceedingly healthy, I decided to move my own Abutilon once again (originally having outgrown its tall, terracotta pot), from the sunny, south-facing location to the shady side and, I am pleased to note, it has settled in, is looking contented and put on new growth. I am hoping that it will be protected from frosts by the adjacent canopy of my Euphorbia mellifera. Now having its roots in rich soil, with plenty of compost added, the extra care seems to have worked. Perhaps the soil on the sunny side wasn’t sufficient in nutrients for the plant to thrive as it should. Last year it also took a long while to recover from pruning, whilst having to contend with the extremely long, hot, dry periods of the heatwaves.

Cuttings are sometimes successful, so I would recommend using the pruned stems as cuttings. This particular species of Abutilon comes in several colours – from deep-orange to soft lemon – and all are suitable for London gardens that can provide some shade and protection during the winter months.

Some reds are difficult to place in a garden, but I think neighbouring plants with orange or light blue flowers and green and purple foliage plants look harmonious together.

Anna
P.S. Thank you, Karen for allowing me to write about your lovely shrub.
Thanks also to Margaret.