I saw these during a nursery visit today. In order to get a decent picture I put the plant up on a high shelf because the flowers face down which, to me, limits their value in the garden or a low planter. Having said that they are gorgeous. Have you tried to grow them?









Down facing blossoms

I don't and probably wouldn't because of the downward facing blossoms.

I've always wanted a Chinese Lantern or Tiger's Eye since seeing one. Haven't seen it in nurseries, but haven't actively been searching either. IDK if it could take our heat and our home is not very bright.

I have and I purchased one this year. It looks like the one in your pic. I guess that is the one the growers are pushing at the nurseries this year.

The last one I had I brought it in for the winter and it bloomed all winter. When it grows tall the flowers are more visible and the leaves push the flowers up so they are not all facing down and out of view. When I finally killed it because I was away from home so long on a business trip it did not get watered. But after 2 years it was 4' tall and full and a beautiful bush in a pot.

The plus from my experience is it is such a easy plant and loves to flower with just a little care of water and fert. in the shade which make it easy to keep inside in the winter.

I have some and in spite of the drought here, they bloom. They are very easy to grow from cuttings too.

I too was hesitant about them at first because of the down facing blooms but now grow several and love them! I figure you don't have to always see a bloom face on to enjoy them. These are almost in year round bloom here so are valuable to me and I have several favorites. The one you pictured Paul looks like Flowering Maple (Abutilon 'Victor Reiter') as it's the only one (that I know of) with the wide open bloom shape.
This is my unknown tall one, it's a small tree now, about 7 ft. tall. Large leaves and blooms. I took a cutting from the one I left behind in my other garden 3 years ago. Frost takes all the leaves but it always recovers nicely.


This is my best one, Trailing Abutilon (Callianthe megapotamica 'Paisley') non stop blooming, even looks nice in winter. It's a sprawling type, maybe 2 ft. tall and 6-7 ft wide so I have it elevated on a slight mound.

They're one of my favorites! Most of them grow quickly & different ones bloom at different times of the year, so there are always some in bloom.

I saw some yellow ones on a nursery visit today but had failed to put the battery in my camera. A good excuse to go back Monday.

I grow the Bella Pink Abutilon (and what IS the correct pronunciation?). Mine are houseplants and have stayed small. The ones Sue grows must be pretty impressive! Can't imagine them that tall!

Here's the correct pronounciation: http://www.howjsay.com/index.p...

Thanks for the pronunciation, Sue - I've always wondered how to say it!

Woofie, there seem to be different heights. I have one that grew to about 12 feet in less than 3 years, and others that stay at 3-6 feet, and the sprawling ones like Sue mentions. I have one sprawling one & didn't understand why it didn't grew up upright, until I finally asked at the nursery & they told me it wasn't any upright albutilon - duh!

The first time I saw them was in the ground in San Francisco. The ones I have had of course are grown in a pot and they have never gotten above 3'. But I usually have the pot on a table so they sit up high and the flowers are visible. When it is happy mine have enough leaves that the leaves below the blooms push the flowers up so they are facing outward.

Here are a few more blooms...

Always wanted one when I saw it blooming in Chinatown, San Francisco. But wondered how it would do in my (heat) zone? I had it as my avatar for awhile. I might have to dig that one up again. Abutilon is soooo pretty!!

WOW these blossoms are looking very beautiful and i think they should be in garden to make the garden more special and beautiful. I will plant them soon in my garden.

Jason. What is your zone? They are not winter hardy. I grow mine in pots and bring them in for the winter and back out on the patio for a summer long of blooms.

I've grown them several times. I've started mine from seed, and it takes a while til they bloom. White flies also seem to be an issue when growing them from seed indoors. The flowers are absolutely gorgeous, and I love them in my autumn containers.