Chinese Lantern Pink

Chinese Lantern Pink (Abutilon x hybridum 'Pink') flowers almost without a break. Pendulous pink bells hang from arching stems on a soft, fast growing shrub that reaches about 2.5m tall and 2m wide, which is enough to close a gap in a boundary within a season. Honeyeaters and bees work the flowers constantly, and the plant takes hard pruning, so it never has to become leggy.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers nearly year round. In warm gardens the pink bells keep coming through most of the year, with only a short quiet spell in the coldest weeks.
• Fast, soft cover. It reaches 2.5m by 2m quickly, filling an awkward gap far sooner than a woody shrub of the same size.
• Birds and bees find it. The nectar rich bells pull in honeyeaters and native bees, so it earns its place beyond looks.
• It responds to pruning. Cut it hard and it comes back bushier, so you control the height and the density rather than the plant deciding.

Where it works best

Informal screening and privacy. Plant 1.2m apart for an informal screen. It will not read as a clipped hedge, but it fills a fence line to about 2.5m with movement and flower.

Feature planting. A single plant beside a path or window earns its place, because the bells hang at eye level and are worth looking into.

Pots and borders. A 400mm or larger pot on a warm patio suits it, as does the middle layer of a mixed border.

Growing Chinese Lantern in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the heaviest flowering, or part shade where inland afternoon sun is fierce. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, comfortable in heat and humidity, and tolerates light frost only. In cold districts grow it in a pot and shelter it over winter.

Soil. Well drained soil enriched with compost. It flowers better in a bed that holds some moisture. Mulch 75mm deep and keep it clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then weekly in dry spells. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring and again in midsummer keeps the flowering going.

Pruning. This is the one job that matters. Cut the whole plant back by up to a third in late winter, then tip prune through the year to keep it dense. Neglected plants go bare at the base and need a hard renewal cut.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes as tube stock, currently supplied to order, and in 200mm pots sold in packs of six. Tubes are the value choice for a long informal screen and catch up quickly. The 200mm plants arrive branched and usually flower in their first season.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Some flower drop in transit is normal and new buds follow within a few weeks. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Screening plants in the 2m to 4m range
• Bird attracting plants for Australian gardens
• Browse the wider flowering plant range
• Pruning basics for shrubs like this one

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Space plants 1.2m apart. At that spacing the arching stems knit together into a soft screen without the centre of each plant shading itself out.

Does it really flower all year?

Close to it in tropical and subtropical gardens. In warm temperate areas flowering slows through the coldest weeks and picks up again as soon as the weather warms.

How do I stop it getting leggy?

Prune it. A hard cut back by a third in late winter plus regular tip pruning keeps the base furnished, and the plant flowers on the new growth that follows.