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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Malvaceae (w/Bombacaceae & Sterculeacea) |
| Origin: Brazil (South America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Variegated Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: Apricot Pink |
| Bloomtime: Year-round |
| Synonyms: [A. striatum, Callianthe striata] |
| Height: 6-10 feet |
| Width: 4-6 feet |
| Exposure: Cool Sun/Light Shade |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Abutilon pictum 'Thompsonii' (Variegated Flowering Maple) - An vigorous and upright evergreen and everblooming shrub grows 6 to 10 feet tall or more by nearly as wide, but usually seen a bit smaller. It dark green maple leaf shaped leaves mottled with yellow and produces a profusion of pendant orange-flushed pink bell shaped flowers in spring through fall and even sometimes in winter in our mild Santa Barbara climate. It can tolerate full coastal sun but looks best with full morning, late afternoon sun or planted in bright shade. Give occasional to regular irrigation - not really drought tolerant but can get along with infrequent watering in cooler coastal gardens and tolerates temperatures down to around 20° F, so useful in USDA Zones 8 through 10. Give it some protection from wind as stems are pretty brittle and tip prune to keep bushy and smaller. This cultivar has been long been grown in gardens and is great for brightening up a space with foliage that really glows and flowers that attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. This plant originally grew in the São Paulo to Rio Grande do Sul area of Brazil and was first imported into England as a seedling in a shipment of Abutilon from the West Indies. The name Abutilon comes from the Arabic name “aubutilon" that was given to a mallow-like plant and the specific epithet is from the Latin word 'pictus' meaning "decorated", "embellished" or "painted" in reference to the variegated leaves. It was named and first published as Abutilon thompsonii by Harry James Veitch in 1868 in his Catalogue of New and Beautiful Plants. It became a cultivar or varietal name when later included with Abutilon pictum and is usually still seen listed as a cultivar of this species, but also as a variety of Abutilon striatum, which most recently (in 2012) was reclassified to Callianthe striata in the article " Callianthe (Malvaceae): A New Genus of Neotropical Malveae" by Aliya A. Donnell, Harvey E. Ballard Jr. and Philip D. Cantino in the summer issue of Systematic Botany V.37 N3. So not to confuse ourselves and our customers, we have retained the most familiar name.
This information about Abutilon pictum 'Thompsonii' displayed is based on research conducted in our library and from reliable online resources. We will also note observations that we have made about it as it grows in the gardens in our nursery and those elsewhere, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others, and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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