Abutilon pictum Abutilon PFAF Plant Database

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Abutilon pictum - (Gillies. ex Hook.&Arn.)Walp.

Common Name

Abutilon

Family

Malvaceae

Synonyms

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

Cultivated as an ornamental plant, it is not known in a truly wild situation.

Range

S. America - Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Abutilon pictum is an evergreen Shrub growing to 5 m (16ft) by 2 m (6ft).
It is hardy to zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in leaf 12-Jan It is in flower from Apr to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs)

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.


http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benutzer:Morray

Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses
Flowers - raw or cooked. A delicious sweet flavour[K]. The flowers produce nectar all the time they are open so, assuming the plant is grown indoors and is not visited by pollinating insects, the sweetness increases the longer the flower is open[K].

Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. None known

Other Uses
None known

Cultivation details

Requires a sunny position or part day shade in a fertile well-drained soil[200]. Dislikes drought[200]. This species is only hardy in the very mildest areas of Britain, being intolerant of temperatures that fall much below 0°c[260]. Plants are often deciduous in cold winters[219]. A deep mulch in winter and tying in growth to the wall will maximise protection in winter[200]. If the plant is cut back by cold weather, it can resprout from the base in the spring and can flower on the current year's growth[202]. A very ornamental plant, there are several named varieties[200]. Several of the cultivars have golden-variegated leaves caused by a virus infection, this infection can spread to other plants[260]. Tip-prune young plants to promote a bushy habit[200]. Older plants tend to get rather leggy, but can be cut back almost to the base in order to promote new growth. This is best done in late winter as the plant starts to come into growth[260]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[200]. Germination should take place within a few weeks. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots. Grow them on for at least the first winter in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of young shoots, June in a frame[200]. Grow on in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant out in spring after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[200]. Grow on in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant out in spring after the last expected frosts.

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Expert comment

Author
(Gillies. ex Hook.&Arn.)Walp.

Botanical References
200

Links / References

[K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[202]Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs.

Contains information on 2,000 species and cultivars, giving details of cultivation requirements. The text is terse but informative.

[219]Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls

A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.

[260]Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2

Excellent photos of over 1,100 species and cultivars with habits and cultivation details plus a few plant uses. Many species are too tender for outdoors in Britain though there are many that can be grown outside.

Readers comment

Elizabeth H.
Louise Ball	Sat Mar 12 15:47:07 2005

Ive got my first Abutilon striatum 'Thopmpsonii' and the flowers were fully opened for a couple of days and now they wont open at all. Do you have any suggestions of what I should do? Please email me back on louiseball@hotmail.co.uk

Many thanks, Louise

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