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Plant Profile: Abutilon megapotamicum - Brazilian Bell Flower

Abutilon megapotamicum

Abutilon megapotamicum - Brazilian Bell Flower

Family: Malvaceae

Common Name(s): Chinese Lantern

Native to: Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay

Flowering: Summer

Watering: Water well during the growing season.

Planting Aspect: Full sun to part shade

Preferred Climate: Temperate, Subtropical, Grassland


Description

This cultivar “Variegatum” is an almost prostrate shrub with branches that may self layer, making it a good ground cover or rock garden plant. It has arching cane-like branches and produces smallish, pendent, bell shaped flowers with a deep red calyx larger than the pale yellow petals. The leaves are sometimes heavily blotched yellow. In cooler climates it is usually grown as a pot plant, but in warmer areas it can be grown outdoors against a warm wall.


Cultivation

Abutilon is drought and frost tender and needs well drained soil and full sun to part shade. They need good watering, especially if grown in containers. Prepare the growing site by digging over the soil and adding a good handful of blood and bone, rich compost or well decayed animal manure prior to planting out. Plants will respond well to regular applications of liquid fertiliser and watering throughout the growing season. No particular pests or diseases.
Revised: 19th Dec 2009 @ 5:10 AM
Keywords: abutilon megapotamicum, brazilian bell flower, malvaceae, abutilon, megapotamicum, brazilian, plant, flower, grown, nursery