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Indian mallow

Abutilon

Also called Velvetleaf, Chinese Lantern Cultivars, Globe Mallows, Indian Mallows

Indian mallow
Photo: Salicyna, CC BY-SA 4.0

Abutilon is a large genus of shrubs, trees and herbs in the mallow family, commonly grown as flowering maples or houseplants. Growing them well depends on bright light and moderate, evenly moist (not soggy) soil.

Family
Malvaceae (Mallow family)
Light
Bright indirect, Full sun
Water
Water when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch, and reduce watering in winter.
Soil
Loose, well-drained potting mix rich in organic matter with added sand.
Temperature
16–23 °C is comfortable for indoor types; protect from frost.
How easy
Easy

About

Abutilon is a large genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics of the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. General common names include Indian mallow and velvetleaf; ornamental varieties may be known as room maple, parlor maple, or flowering maple.

The genus name is an 18th-century Neo-Latin word that came from the Arabic ’abū-ṭīlūn (أبو طيلون), the name given by Avicenna to this or a similar genus.

How to grow it

Some abutilons are cultivated as garden plants. Several hybrids and cultivars have been developed.

Cultivars, hybrids, and species that have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit include:

Other Abutilon plants

Monkeybush · Ko'oloa 'ula · Palmer's Indian mallow · Coastal Indian mallow · Velvetleaf

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Abutilon by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

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