Don’t let the common names of Chinese lanterns and flowering maples fool you. Abutilons (Abutilon spp.) are neither Oriental nor maple trees (Acer spp). Evergreen perennials in USDA zones 9 through 10 and grown as annuals elsewhere, semitropical Chinese lanterns belong to the mallow (Malvaceae) family. Use them as Mediterranean-climate foundation shrubs and espaliers or frost-sensitive container plants.
Chinese lantern plants' lobed foliage easily passes for that of true maple trees. The delicate, five-petaled flowers peeping from beneath their leaves, however, place them in the mallow family. True to their name, the lantern-shaped blooms sway from the leaf stems from spring to fall, illuminating the garden with tiny flames of yellow, orange, red, pink or whites. Some Chinese lantern hybrids add fuel to the floral fire with contrasting petal veins. Green leaves are the norm for the up-to-10-foot shrubs, although some varieties have white variegation, while the abutilon mosaic virus speckles others with a golden yellow.
Growing Chinese Lanterns
Chinese lanterns flourish in rich, well-drained soils, but their light requirements vary according to location. Plants in hot climates need full shade; elsewhere, they do best with four to six hours of sun each day. In coastal settings, wind-protected locations with morning sun and afternoon shade are best. Water as needed to maintain consistently moist soil during the growing season. If you're in a Mediterranean climate, decrease the water during the winter rainy season. Prune in-ground plants back by up to 30 percent in late winter using tools sterilized in a solution of 1 part household bleach and 9 parts water. When pruning, protect yourself from the potentially skin-irritating sap with gloves and long sleeves. Fertilize at pruning time with bone meal. Scatter it at the rate of 1/2 pound, or the manufacturer's recommended amount, per 10 square feet and work it lightly into the soil.
Pests and Disease
Scale insects and whiteflies attack Chinese lanterns to feed on their sap. Heavy feeding may result in yellow, distorted foliage that falls from the plants prematurely. Both pests colonize the branches, stems and leaf undersides. Their most obvious calling card is the sticky, clear honeydew they excrete. Whiteflies also transmit the otherwise-harmless abutilon mosaic virus, the pathogen responsible for some cultivars' gold-speckled leaves. Bark-mottled coloration camouflages flightless Fuller rose beetles as they chew holes in flowers and foliage. Their tiny yellowish larvae nibble on roots, but neither does enough damage to warrant control.
Managing Scales and Whiteflies
Scrape small scale infestations off with a soft-bristled toothbrush and remove whiteflies with a forceful blast of water. Suffocate heavy infestations with nontoxic, ready-to-use insecticidal soap spray, saturating the plant's surfaces and repeating the treatment at the manufacturer's recommended intervals until the pests are gone. Wear a washable long-sleeved shirt, long pants and a hat and use protective eyewear and a respiratory mask when handling the soap.
- Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, Fifth Edition; Michael A. Dirr
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Abutilon x Hybridum
- Abutilon: A Showy Shrub That’s Excellent for Espaliers!
- University of Vermont Extension: Perry's Perennial Pages -- Abutilon
- Cambria Nursery and Florist: Abutilon
- OregonLive: How to Care for Abutilon
- North Carolina State University Extension: Abutilon x Hybridum
- University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Abutilon
- University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Scales
- University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Whiteflies
- Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Management Handbook: Abutilon -- Abutilon Infectious Variegation
- University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Fuller Rose Beetle
- University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Pesticide Information -- Active Ingredient, Soap
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