Picture perfect abutilon packed with pendant pink petals
March 12, 2013
Was it the mild winter? The evenly cool spring so far, combined with plenty of sun? Finally getting its roots settled? Whatever the cause, the pink abutilon (no ID; purchased from Barton Springs Nursery) in the back garden is absolutely loaded with veined, bell-like flowers right now.
The plant stands about 2-1/2 feet tall and 1-1/2 feet wide. She has a leggy, flamingo-ish look, although columbines, Gulf Coast penstemon, and daylilies are lifting their heads at her feet, so hopefully they’ll soon hide her skinny gams.
From another angle—just as pretty.
I just counted 40 blossoms on one side alone. That’s a pink profusion!
All material © 2006-2013 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Beautiful! I have few plants but not this beauty.
I need to prune mine and it escapes me how to do it. Any suggestions?
I’m going to whack mine back—no special technique—when it stops blooming as summer heats up. To keep it bushy for fall, I’m thinking of taking it down to about a foot tall. We’ll see! —Pam
Stunning! Wish there was an ID so I could rush out and buy one:) Does it get morning sun?
Yes, morning sun, Steph. I have others in bright shade, and they do well too, although they aren’t blooming as much. —Pam
Gorgeous.. I guess it’d die here in our frigid Ohio winters.. Really pretty.. but I have a soft spot for all things hibiscus.. cousins & all. 😉
It would be a houseplant in winter for you, KimH, but maybe it would do well on the patio in the summer? —Pam
These pink blooms are primo! What a gorgeous, healthy plant overall, too. I’ve tried twice to grow Abutilon. I’m a total dud. Both died. What’s your secret? Mine got morning sun only. I will say that I lost one of them in the ’11 “summer from hell”, so maybe I over/under watered it …
I don’t have a secret, Sandy. They just do their thing. I have a couple planted in amended soil and others planted among choking live oak roots. Both do well. The key, I think, is midday-to-afternoon shade, and I do water mine once a week. I would give them a try again since the drought was a plant-buster for sure, and you can’t blame yourself for that. —Pam
Perfectly put!
Precisely! —Pam
Beautiful! You must have the right place, mine did beautifully for a couple of years in the shade and then gave up last August. Last August wasn’t even that hot.
Bummer! I wonder if they’re short-lived? I’ve had mine for only a couple of years too. —Pam
Beautiful blooms!
They are yummy, aren’t they? —Pam
Beautiful!
Have a wonderful day!
Lea
Lea’s Menagerie
I did, Lea. Hope you did too! —Pam
Wow! I’m in zone 8a and none of my abutilons have more than scraggly winter-scorched leaves. Gorgeous!
We’ve had a very mild winter in Austin, Eliza. I bet your abutilons perk up soon. —Pam
Another pretty plant you have there Pam! Is that related to a turks cap? The flowers looks similar…
Hi, Heather. I don’t think it’s related to Turk’s cap, but I’m no horticulturist. I wrote a more general post about abutilons not long ago, which may interest you. —Pam
Something that copes well with choking oak roots, you say? I must add it to my shopping list!
Happy shopping, MHM! —Pam
That hairy cactus, I believe, is Old Man cactus.