EASY TO GROW, AS A MALLOW! (Abutilon)

Member Name: greengoddess

Product:	Abutilon
Date:	18/10/01 (570 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: PRETTY FLOWERS, LOVELY-COLOURS, LONG-FLOWERING PERIOD

Disadvantages: COULD BE HARDIER !

There are several good Abutilon`s to grow.
If you can grow a Mallow(Lavatera) then
you can grow an Abutilon..
They are the same family,& love the
same conditions!
As long as they have a lovely sunny-site
& well-drained soil, with plenty of room,
to grow.Some can grow up to 10ft,& more..
The largest I`ve grown, which turned out
to be one of the best by far was;
ABUTILON VITIFOLLUM.(Evergreen)
This plant was grown from seed, by the
kids & myself,& to our surprise the whole
lot germinated!We had loads & the seed was
only 10p from a gardener who had one of
those garden-trail`s,browsing round each
others gardens,great fun!!
Anyway these seeds produced both mauve,&
white plants(even better)
We kept quite a few & had to decide what
to do with the others.
We decided to raise funds,for the
Riding for the Disabled,& sold loads of
different plants.
The ones we kept looked beautiful,with
saucer-shaped flowers similar to a mallow
but prettier!
We dotted them about the garden & put
white ones in between the mauve with
great results...
The leaves,evergreen, got a bit messy in
the Winter, but most of the plants survived!
We`ve taken them from house to house,
collecting seed ,every year.
Last year was so wet we lost all of them,
but I shall be growing them again soon!
ABUTILON MEGAPOTAMICUM-VARIEGATUM.
This plant is a variegated variety,& I`ve
only had this one in a pot,one season, &
I bring it in when it gets cold.
This is not hardy, but is great in a porch
or conservatory,for the Winter.
The flowers are more like an Abutilon
should be with bells,of red & yellow,
hanging gracefully down.
Looks great on the patio, with the summer
bedding,or if you live in the South, you
could try growing it on a South-facing wall!
ABUTILON ASHFORD-
RED.
I have never found this variety to be hardy
One was given to me for a present, from
a gardening friend, & it was so elegant!
The leaves were more of a apple-green
colour,& the flowers were larger than the
other tender varieties..
These were like large bells of a deep
strawberry colour,lovely.
This too made a lovely container plant,
but if put in the garden, for the Summer,
it can grow to 6ft.
If you lived in a warmer climate, you
could chance it outside!
There are other varieties,that I haven`t
tried yet..
But if you want Summer-bedding,why not
try growing the Large-flowered fancy
Hybrids, from seed..
If you get a mix, the colour`s range
from yellow,apricot,pink & red..
They grow fast, & look superb in containers!
If you fancy something hardier, grow the
Abutilon Vitifollum,either in mauve or white
Everybody grows mallows,have a go at
growing something different,it will be
admired by all!
You will be the envy of your neighbours!
Seed`s available from Thompson & Morgan,
or any good garden-centre.Prices vary!
You can buy plants, but not everyone does
them you have to shop around!

GREENGODDESS ..OCT.17TH..9.00PM..

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