Trailing Abutilon
Abutilon megapotamicum

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A medium size evergreen shrub growing to 2m. A lax plant, with arching branches, large red calyces and small yellow lantern blooms. It can be trained over arches or as a weeping standard. There are two forms of this species, one prostrate, making a good ground cover the other upright.Flowers are used as a vegetable and have a pleasant sweet flavour, we find them delicious to eat raw.

Abutilon megapotamicum is an evergreen Shrub growing to 2 m (6ft) by 2 m (6ft) 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 April to September. 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.

Height (m): 2

Where it is found

Widely cultivated in the Tropics and not known in a truly wild situation.

S. America - Brazil.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Brazil, South America, Uruguay,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Flowers - cooked. Used as a vegetable. A pleasant sweet flavour, we find them delicious to eat raw. The flowers are produced from mid spring until the autumn - they 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.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 0

How it is grown

Requires a sunny position or part day shade in a fertile well-drained soil. Dislikes drought. This species is only hardy in the mildest areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to between -5 to -10°c when given the protection of a south or south-west facing wall. A deep mulch in winter and tying in growth to the wall will maximise protection in winter. If the plant is cut back by cold weather, it will normally resprout from the base in the spring and can flower on the current year's growth. Dead-heading plants to prevent seeding can enhance longevity. Tip-prune young plants to promote a bushy habit, older plants can be cut back hard annually in spring if required. There are some named forms, selected for their ornamental value. There is a variegated form in cultivation, this variegation is as a result of infection by abutilon mosaic virus. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.

Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Germination should take place within a few weeks. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots. Grow them on for at least the first winter in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of young shoots, June in a frame. Grow on in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant out in spring after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Grow on in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant out in spring after the last expected frosts.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 7-10

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Bencao-de-deus, Brazilian lantern flower, Sininho,

Synonyms

A. vexillarium.