John Rickard
Family
Malvaceae
Botanical Name
ABUTILON 'Albus'
Plant Common Name
Chinese Lantern, Flowering Maple, Parlour Maple, White Flowering Maple
General Description
The white-flowered Chinese lantern is a shrub that is commonly planted as a bedding or house plant. This vigorous hybrid arises from a cross between Abutilon darwinii and Abutilon pictum.
Chinese lantern is everblooming as long as growing conditions are favorable. This cultivar bears profuse small, pendulous, hibiscus-like flowers of white. The maple-like leaves are evergreen in frost-free climates.
Overall, Chinese lantern grows best in sites with full sun to partial shade and rich, soil with good drainage and even moisture. Where hardy, it can be planted in mixed shrub borders or foundations. In temperate areas it can be planted as a bedding or container plant and brought indoors to overwinter.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
10 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
8 - 10
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Shrub
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Bloom Time
Indeterminate
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Native To
World/Pandemic
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Average
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Growth Rate
Fast
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Clump-Forming
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White, Yellow, Red, Orange, Pink, Peach, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
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Bark Color
Tan, Sandy Brown
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
Yes
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Smooth
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Usage
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier, Tropical
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Self-Sowing
Yes