Chinese Lantern, Flowering Maple

Abutilon x hybridum

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Basic Information

Family: Malvaceae

Genus: abutilon

Plant ID (slug): abutilon-x-hybridum

Numeric ID: 224

USDA Hardiness: 9-11

Ratings

Edible Rating: ★★★☆☆

Medicinal Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Other Uses Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Physical Characteristics

Abutilon x hybridum is an evergreen Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

A hybrid of garden origin, A. darwinii x A. pictum.

Habitats

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

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Edible Uses: Flowers - raw or cooked. A delicious sweet flavour, they are excellent on their own or as part of a mixed salad[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

None known

Known Hazards

None known

Detailed Information

Additional Information

Title: Abutilon x hybridum Chinese Lantern, Flowering Maple PFAF Plant Database

Meta Description: Abutilon x hybridum is an evergreen Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.