ABUTILON. Flowering maple. Widespread, temperate and subtropical regions. This is a group of often rangy, fast growing shrubs related to and somewhat resembling Hibiscus. They have attractive large, maple-like leaves. The blossoms are saucer to lantern shaped, usually 2-3" across and of many hues—white to lavender and yellow to scarlet and crimson. Many are virtually everblooming. The following selections cover a broad range of foliar and floral types. Sun or light shade, most soils, regular watering. Hardy mostly to 20-25o when established.
x suntense. This is a hybrid remade many times between A. vitifolium, below, and A. ochsenii. It is upright but fairly compact, with large, pointed leaves. Both stems and leaves have a dense felt of pale hairs. The flowers are borne in large clusters at the shoot tips, those of our selection being about 3" across, wide-open, and nearly violet in color. Several degrees hardier than the preceding hybrids.
vitifolium ‘Veronica Tennant’ is a robust shrub reaching 8' or more, densely hairy and pale grey green throughout. Its clusters of very large, pale lavender blossoms are borne at the shoot tips, mostly in summer. One of the hardiest of the group, enduring temperatures in the 'teens.