• Photo of Abutilon x hybridum (Abutilon x hybridums)

Plant Profile: Abutilon x hybridum

Names

Chinese Bellflower, Chinese Lantern, Flowering Maple, Parlor Maple

  • Photo of Abutilon x hybridum (Abutilon x hybridums)

Phonetic Spelling:ah-BEW-tih-lon BY HY-brih-dum

Genus:Abutilon

Species:

Family:Malvaceae

The Flowering Maple belongs to the mallow family and thrives in rich, consistently moist, and well-drained soil. To ensure its health, it’s important to shield this plant from the intense afternoon sun, particularly in regions with hot summers. While it is native to specific areas, it can also be cultivated as a houseplant. To promote a bushier appearance and robust growth, pinch back the stems. Throughout the growing season, this plant will produce an abundance of vibrant, bell-shaped flowers in a variety of colors. For indoor cultivation, pruning in the spring can help maintain a manageable size. Place it in a sunny window for optimal growth.

However, be aware of potential issues such as aphids, thrips, mites, whiteflies, and Pythium root rot.

Abutilon x hybridum Feature Summary

Abutilon x hybridum Image Gallery

Tags

#red
#white
#showy flowers
#yellow
#poisonous
#full sun tolerant
#houseplant
#annual
#orange
#white flowers
#shrub
#pink flowers
#red flowers
#yellow flowers
#orange flowers
#flowering tree
#Chinese lantern
#summer flowers
#woody shrub
#tropical feel

Similar Plants

Abutilon x hybridum Feature Summary

Attributes
Unsure- perhaps S. America
Flowers are edible raw or cooked with a sweet flavor
Flowers
Flowers are single in leaf axils, drooping, have 5 petals that are 2 inches long, and have stamens fused into a tubular column. Flowers are white, red, yellow, pink, or orange.
Pink
White
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Orange
Variegated
4-5 petals/rays
1-3 inches
Leaves
This shrub has leaves that are alternate, simple, maple-like lobed, often variegated, with toothed margins (serrate to crenate) and a pointed tip.
Green
Gold/Yellow
Variegated
Palmatifid
Cordate
Lobed
Serrate
Crenate
Stem
Stems tend to be weak. Pinch back to promote stronger, compact plant.
Poisonous to Humans
SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Mild allergic skin reactions and various types of dermatitis
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Annual
Poisonous
Arching
Erect
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Landscape
Container
Patio
Houseplants
Poisonous to Humans
Contact Dermatitis

Abutilon x hybridum Attributes

Abutilon x hybridum: Country Or Region Of Origin

Unsure- perhaps S. America

Abutilon x hybridum: Edibility

Flowers are edible raw or cooked with a sweet flavor

Abutilon x hybridum: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Abutilon x hybridum: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Abutilon x hybridum Flowers

Abutilon x hybridum: Flower Description

Flowers are single in leaf axils, drooping, have 5 petals that are 2 inches long, and have stamens fused into a tubular column. Flowers are white, red, yellow, pink, or orange.

Abutilon x hybridum: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Orange
filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy
filter_vintage
Variegated
filter_vintage
White

Abutilon x hybridum: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Abutilon x hybridum: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Abutilon x hybridum: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Abutilon x hybridum: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Abutilon x hybridum: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Abutilon x hybridum: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Abutilon x hybridum Leaves

Abutilon x hybridum: Leaf Description

This shrub has leaves that are alternate, simple, maple-like lobed, often variegated, with toothed margins (serrate to crenate) and a pointed tip.

Abutilon x hybridum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Abutilon x hybridum: Leaf Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Green
spa
Variegated

Abutilon x hybridum: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Abutilon x hybridum: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Abutilon x hybridum: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Abutilon x hybridum: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Abutilon x hybridum: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Abutilon x hybridum: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Abutilon x hybridum Stem

Abutilon x hybridum: Stem Description

Stems tend to be weak. Pinch back to promote stronger, compact plant.

Abutilon x hybridum: Stem Color

grass
Green

Abutilon x hybridum: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Abutilon x hybridum Poisonous to Humans

Abutilon x hybridum: Poison Symptoms

SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Mild allergic skin reactions and various types of dermatitis

Abutilon x hybridum: Poison Toxic Principle

Unknown

Abutilon x hybridum: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Abutilon x hybridum: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Abutilon x hybridum: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Abutilon x hybridum Whole Plant Traits

Abutilon x hybridum: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Abutilon x hybridum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Abutilon x hybridum: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Abutilon x hybridum: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Abutilon x hybridum: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Abutilon x hybridum Cultural Conditions

Abutilon x hybridum: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Abutilon x hybridum: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Abutilon x hybridum: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Abutilon x hybridum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Abutilon x hybridum: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Abutilon x hybridum Landscape

Abutilon x hybridum: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Abutilon x hybridum: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Abutilon x hybridum: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy