Variegated Apricot Abutilon Live Plant – Flowering Maple – 5-8 Inch Tall

Overview

Introduce a touch of exotic beauty to your garden with the stunning variegated apricot abutilon plant. This captivating live plant, often referred to as flowering maple plant due to its leaf shape, is a hybrid species (Abutilon x hybridum) renowned for its unique variegated foliage and delicate, lantern-shaped flowers. Growing to a mature height and width of 6-10 feet, this abutilon variety is a fantastic choice for adding vertical interest and continuous blooms to your landscape. Its vibrant apricot-colored flowers dangle gracefully, creating a picturesque display that attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Perfect for USDA Zones 9-11, this plant thrives in warm climates and can be a showstopper in containers or as a garden specimen.

The variegated apricot abutilon plant is a versatile and relatively low-maintenance shrub that can be grown in various settings. Its distinctive leaves, often mottled with shades of green and cream, provide year-round interest even when not in bloom. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting, this plant offers a rewarding growing experience with its prolific flowering habit and attractive appearance. It’s an excellent choice for those looking to add a unique, long-blooming shrub to their collection.

Key Benefits

The variegated apricot abutilon plant offers numerous advantages for any garden or patio. Its striking features and easy-care nature make it a highly desirable addition:

• Stunning Ornamental Appeal: The beautiful variegated foliage combined with the unique apricot-colored, lantern-shaped flowers creates a truly eye-catching display. It adds a touch of tropical elegance and vibrant color to any setting.
• Long Blooming Season: Enjoy continuous blooms throughout much of the year in suitable climates, providing consistent color and interest when many other plants have finished flowering. This extended bloom period ensures your garden always has something special.
• Attracts Pollinators: The charming flowers are a magnet for hummingbirds and butterflies, bringing life and movement to your garden space and contributing to local biodiversity. Watching these creatures flit around your variegated apricot abutilon plant is a delight.
• Versatile Growth Habit: Can be grown as a standalone specimen, in mixed borders, or in large containers, offering flexibility in garden design. Its upright, bushy form makes it suitable for various landscape applications.
• Relatively Low Maintenance: Once established, this plant requires moderate care, making it a good choice for gardeners seeking beauty without excessive effort. Proper abutilon x hybridum care ensures healthy growth.
• Attractive Foliage: Even without blooms, the variegated leaves provide significant visual interest, ensuring your garden remains attractive year-round. The intricate patterns on the leaves are a feature in themselves.
• Adaptable to Light Conditions: Tolerates a range of light from filtered sun to partial shade, making it adaptable to different garden exposures. This flexibility allows for broader placement options in your landscape.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper abutilon x hybridum care is essential for a thriving and floriferous plant. This variegated apricot abutilon plant prefers a location with filtered sun to partial shade. While it can tolerate some full sun, especially in cooler climates, protection from intense afternoon sun is recommended to prevent leaf scorch and maintain the vibrancy of its variegated foliage. In warmer regions, full shade might be beneficial during the hottest parts of the day. Ensure it receives adequate light to encourage abundant flowering, but avoid harsh, direct exposure that could stress the plant.

Watering should be regular, especially during dry periods and the main growing season. The soil should be kept consistently moist but not waterlogged. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out slightly between waterings to prevent root rot. Good drainage is crucial, so plant in well-draining soil. USDA Zones 9-11 are ideal for outdoor growth, where it can be grown as a perennial. In colder zones, it can be grown as an annual or brought indoors during winter as a container plant. Fertilize regularly during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer to support continuous blooming and healthy growth. Pruning can be done to maintain shape, encourage bushiness, and remove any leggy stems. For those wanting to learn more about abutilon growing tips, consistent moisture and appropriate light are key.

Common problems include spider mites and whiteflies, especially in dry, indoor conditions. Regular inspection and appropriate organic or chemical controls can manage these pests. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal issues. This lantern flowers plant is generally robust, but vigilance regarding care will ensure its long-term health and beauty. Providing a good growing environment will help prevent most issues and lead to a flourishing plant.

Size & Details

You will receive a healthy variegated apricot abutilon plant that is approximately 5-8 inches tall. This starter plant is well-rooted and ready for transplanting into your garden or a larger pot. While shipped without a pot to ensure safe transit, it is carefully packaged to maintain moisture and protect the plant. The plant will mature into a shrub reaching an impressive height and width of 6-10 feet, creating a substantial presence in your landscape. Its growth rate is moderate, allowing you to enjoy its beauty relatively quickly.

This flowering maple plant is suitable for USDA Zones 9-11 for outdoor planting, where it can live as a perennial. In colder climates, it can be grown as a container plant and overwintered indoors. Expect to see its beautiful apricot lantern flowers bloom prolifically once established, typically from spring through fall, and even longer in frost-free environments. The variegated foliage provides year-round interest.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The variegated apricot abutilon plant typically grows to a mature height and width of 6-10 feet, forming a substantial and attractive shrub in your garden.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: It can be grown outdoors in USDA Zones 9-11 as a perennial. In colder climates, it is best grown as a container plant and brought indoors during the winter months.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This plant thrives in filtered sun to partial shade. It appreciates protection from intense afternoon sun, especially in hot climates, to prevent leaf burn.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, with proper abutilon x hybridum care, it is considered relatively low-maintenance. Regular watering and appropriate light conditions are key to its success.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: You will receive a healthy, well-rooted starter plant, approximately 5-8 inches tall, shipped without a pot to ensure its safe arrival.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time to plant is in spring or early summer after the last frost, allowing the plant to establish itself before extreme temperatures.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: If you are in USDA Zones 9-11, it will likely survive winter outdoors. In colder zones, it needs protection or to be brought indoors as a houseplant.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature it can tolerate? A: The variegated apricot abutilon plant prefers temperatures above 20-25°F (-6 to -3°C). It is not frost-hardy and needs protection from freezing temperatures.
• Q: How often should I water my flowering maple plant? A: Water regularly, keeping the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Allow the top soil to dry slightly between waterings.
• Q: What kind of soil does this lantern flowers plant prefer? A: It prefers well-draining, fertile soil. A good quality potting mix with added organic matter is ideal for container growing.