Chinese Lanterns (Abutilon)

How to choose a Chinese lantern

Flower colour is the first choice, and the cultivar names are a fair guide. The Chinese Lantern Lucky Lantern Red and the Chinese Lantern Lucky Lantern Pink belong to a compact series bred to stay low and bushy, which makes them the pick for pots, small gardens and the front of a bed. The Boule de Neige Chinese Lantern is an old white flowered variety, and the Chinese Lantern Pink Clouds is one of the taller hybrid types.

The traditional hybrids grow into open, arching shrubs of around two metres or more if left unpruned. They suit the back of a border, or training flat against a fence or wall, where the hanging flowers can be seen from below.

Where Chinese lanterns grow

Abutilons grow well in subtropical, warm temperate and mild cool temperate gardens. They flower in full sun or part shade, and in hot inland areas they are happier with morning sun and afternoon shade. Shelter matters, because the soft, brittle branches snap in strong wind. They tolerate light frost only. In colder districts, plant against a warm wall or grow them in pots that can be moved under cover in winter.

They mix easily with other flowering plants in a cottage or subtropical style garden, they fill space quickly among other fast growing plants, and the compact types are well suited to our range of plants for pots.

Planting and spacing

Plant in spring or autumn into well drained soil enriched with compost. Space taller varieties about one to one and a half metres apart, and compact varieties about 60 centimetres apart. Water in well and mulch to keep the roots cool. A short stake helps a young plant in a breezy spot until the main stems thicken.

Care basics

Keep the soil evenly moist through the growing season. Abutilons wilt quickly when dry, and usually recover just as quickly when watered. Feed in spring and again in summer with a slow release fertiliser for flowering plants.

Pruning is what keeps a Chinese lantern looking good. Left alone, the plants become tall and bare at the base. Cut back by about a third to a half in late winter or early spring, once frost has passed, and pinch out the tips of new shoots through the season to build a bushy plant with more flowering wood. They are not long lived shrubs, but they grow fast and strike easily from cuttings.

Watch for sap sucking pests such as aphids and whitefly on soft new growth, especially on sheltered or indoor plants, and hose them off or treat early.

Common questions

Are Chinese lantern and flowering maple the same plant?

Yes. Both are common names for Abutilon. The maple name comes from the leaf shape, and the plants are not related to true maples.

When do Chinese lanterns flower?

For much of the year in mild climates, with the heaviest display from spring to autumn.

When should I prune a Chinese lantern?

Prune hard in late winter or early spring after frost, then tip prune lightly during the growing season to keep it bushy.

Can Chinese lanterns grow in pots?

Yes, especially the compact varieties. Use a large pot and water often in warm weather, as they dry out quickly.