How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Flowering Maple Shrubs

What has the leaves of a maple tree and the blossoms of a hibiscus? No, this isn’t a botany riddle—this plant really exists! Flowering maple (Abutilon x hybridum), also referred to by its genus Abutilon, is a frost-tender shrub known for its striking bell-shaped blooms.

Abutilon is a large genus with over 200 different species. The ornamental typically grown in homes and home gardens is likely a hybrid cross of several species or a cultivar of A. megapotamicum or A. pictum. All are members of the Malvaceae family, which contains other garden favorites like hollyhock, Rose of Sharon, and hibiscus. You may have even seen a distant cousin of flowering maple on your plate before – okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is also a part of this diverse family.

What Is It?

A favorite houseplant during the Victorian era, and subsequently dubbed “parlor maple”, flowering maple briefly declined in popularity by the middle of the century. However, their versatility in the garden and huge range of cultivated flower colors has propelled them back into recent favor with gardeners and houseplant lovers alike.

Native Area

There are over 200 species of Abutilon spread across the tropics and subtropics of Central and South America. Africa, Asia, and Australia. The origins this species specifically are not entirely known. However, as a likely hybrid of tropical species, flowering maples thrive in moist, warm environments.

Characteristics

Depending on where and how you garden, flowering maple can be grown as a broadleaf evergreen shrub (hardy in the absolute warmest growing zones of North America), annual, or even a houseplant. These are upright, branching plants that can grow as tall as 8 feet in their native tropical environment.

However, in the home garden, they are typically between 18 inches and 4 feet in height. As its common name indicates, flowering maples have palmate, trifoliate leaves that resemble those found on maple trees.

Arguably the most notable feature on this tropical shrub are its distinct bell or cup-shaped flowers. Small lantern-shaped buds open to large, pendulous blooms in vivid shades of red, orange, coral, pink, yellow, and white.

A healthy flowering maple can bloom continuously from early summer to first frost, although some cultivars have been bred to flower nearly year-round. The flamboyant flowers are especially attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies.

Planting

This gorgeous flowering shrub can easily make its home in mixed border beds, containers, or even hanging baskets. Place as an accent plant among a bed full of ornamental grasses or ferns.

Pair a container-planted flowering maple with similarly potted-up cannas and mandevillas for a patio container garden with a tropical flair. Brighten up a semi-shady spot in the garden with a pink or yellow flowering maple underplanted with chartreuse coleus.

Or, simply enjoy flowering maple as a specimen plant, where you can admire its blossoms in all their glory. Flowering maple can be grown outdoors year-round in zones 9-11, with some cultivars hardy into zone 8. Be sure to know your growing zone prior to planting. 

How to Grow

These plants are not exactly challenging to grow, but planting them requires a tiny bit of foresight. When grown under the right conditions, they are fast-growing and free-blooming plants.

Light

Plant flowering maples in full sun or partial shade. In particularly hot regions, some afternoon shade will prevent them from wilting. If growing indoors, place this plant in a bright, south or west-facing window where it will get plenty of sunshine.

Water

These tender perennials are a bit picky when it comes to watering; they absolutely don’t want to dry out, but they also struggle in persistently waterlogged conditions. They thrive when kept consistently and evenly watered.

Increase watering during the hottest summer days, especially for those plants placed in full sun. For plants kept indoors, reduce your watering frequency significantly during the winter months.

Soil

Flowering maples are relatively tolerant of less-than-ideal soil. However, they really thrive in rich, well-drained soil chock full of organic matter. Amend soil with a healthy dose of compost prior to planting, and mulch with an inch or two of organic mulch afterward.

Mulch will help soil retain moisture. For container-grown plants, use a high-quality potting soil and be sure the container has adequate drainage at the bottom.

Temperature and Humidity

Native to tropical and subtropical ecosystems, flowering maples love warm temperatures and plenty of humidity. They are reliably hardy in zones 9-11, however there are some select varieties that will tolerate zone 8 provided they are in well-drained soil.

Cold climate gardeners typically grow these shrubs as either as annuals or indoor houseplants, as they will not survive temperatures below freezing. Container plants can be moved indoors to a bright room with moderate temperatures (60-70°F or 16-21°C) before the first fall frost.

Fertilizing

This shrub responds well to a regular dose of fertilizer. Feed these plants monthly with a water-soluble fertilizer from early spring through fall, when the plant is actively growing.

Pause fertilizer application during the winter months to allow plants their natural dormancy period. A balanced fertilizer (20-20-20, for example) will work just fine. However, gardeners may want to try a fertilizer high in phosphorus to promote blossoms.

Maintenance

Without occasional pruning, flowering maples can look a bit scraggly over time. To avoid the leggy look, prune flowering maples in early spring or late fall.

Remove branches at the base to help control the overall shape of the plant or cut individual stems just above the leaf node. These shrubs bloom on new wood; regular pinching throughout the growing season will encourage fuller, more lush growth.

Propagation

Propagating flowering maples is relatively easy. Plants can be grown from seed or propagated via cuttings. Neither are complicated, however, taking cuttings is generally regarded as the fastest (and most convenient!) way to start new plants.

Growing from Seed

Starting this plant from seed requires a bit of patience, but it can be done! Scarify the seeds with a bit of sandpaper just prior to planting. Surface-sow seeds on damp seed starting mix 8-10 weeks before your region’s last frost.

Flowering maple seeds require warmth to germinate—a heat mat will help keep temperatures above 70°F (21°C). Seeds will germinate in 14-21 days, however it may take a full year before these tender perennials flower.

Cuttings

Flowering maples are easily propagated by softwood stem cuttings. Choose a green, healthy stem and cut a 4-6-inch long tip from the end. Strip the lower leaves, dip the cut end in rooting hormone, then place the tip in a moist seed starting mix or soilless media.

As with growing from seed, heat will help speed rooting. Tip cuttings taken in late summer are a space-saving alternative to overwintering an entire mature plant.

Popular Varieties

Here are some unique cultivars and related species.

Abutilon megapotamican

A truly exceptional plant, A. megapotamican sprouts 2-inch long lantern-shaped flowers that feature solid yellow interior petals wrapped in red calyces (outer petals). The bold, dangling blooms are hummingbird magnets.

Also called trailing abutilon or Brazilian bellflower, this show-stopping plant grows beautifully in containers, hanging baskets, or beds. In its native Brazil, this plant can easily grow to be 8 feet tall. However, in more temperate North American gardens, it typically tops out at 6 feet or less. Grow in full sun and moist, fertile soil amended with plenty of compost.

‘Kentish Belle’

A hybrid of the above A. megapotamicum, ‘Kentish Belle’ features similarly dangling blooms in shades of golden orange. ‘Kentish Belle’ has a rambling growth habit suited for beds and borders.

Plant in rich, fertile soil and water thoroughly during the hottest weeks of summer. This is one of the hardiest flowering maple cultivars and can be grown as cold as zone 7, provided it has plenty of protection from harsh winds and waterlogged soil.

‘Nabob’

With nearly black stems and bowl-shaped, deep crimson flowers, ‘Nabob’ brings the drama. This cultivar is typically 3-4 feet tall and wide, making it well-suited for containers and indoor settings. It has a long blooming period, from early summer through the end of fall, and is particularly sensitive to frost.

Abutilon ‘Red Tiger’

“Subtle” is not in this plant’s vocabulary. ‘Red Tiger’ features lantern-shaped golden flower petals with deep red veining. A narrow cultivar that can grow several feet in a season if the conditions are right, ‘Red Tiger’ is perfect for training into a tree as a specimen plant. This cultivar is hardy in zones 8-10.

‘Kristen’s Pink’

A truly compact cultivar that stands just 12-18 inches tall, ‘Kristen’s Pink’ is the perfect candidate for containers or hanging baskets. This plant produces loads of gorgeous 3-inch-wide flowers that open coral, then deepen to a rosy pink. Pair with begonias and fuschia for an all-pink container that will thrive in partial shade.

Abutilon Hybridum ‘Savitzii’

Unique even among other flowering maples, ‘Savitzii’ unfurls beautiful cream and green variegated foliage that compliments its apricot-colored flowers. It flowers less profusely than other flowering maples, but ‘Savitzii’s’ flashy foliage more than makes up for any slow bloom periods. It was awarded the Royal Horticulture Society’s Award of Garden Merit in 1999.

Common Problems

Aside from being frost-sensitive and requiring consistently moist soil, flowering maples are easy growers with few problems.

Pests

Outside, flowering maple is resistant to pests. However, whitefly (Trialeurodes spp.) is a common pest found on indoor flowering maples, hibiscus, fuschia, and other flowering greenhouse plants. Insecticidal soap can be sprayed, and sticky traps can be deployed to help tackle minor infestations. However, for larger whitefly infestations, biological control via predatory lady beetles may be more effective.

Aphids, thrips, and mites may also be an issue. If you notice any of these soft-bodied insects, blast your plant with a strong stream of water from a hose. This takes care of thrips and aphids, and complicates conditions for mites, who prefer dry areas. Follow up with neem or insecticidal soap where necessary.  

Diseases

These tropical shrubs are susceptible to Abutilon mosaic virus, which can be transmitted by mechanical means (infected shears or pruners, for example) or via the silverleaf insect Bemisia tabaci.

The disease causes intricate yellow or white mottling on the leaves, but interestingly, it appears to have little to no impact on the growth or health of this plant. The colorful mottling and blotches are considered attractive enough that some growers even intentionally infect plants with this virus.

Root rot may also be a problem in soils that remain wet for too long. Ensure you are giving your flowering maple the correct amount of irrigation to prevent this fungal disease from taking hold. If you notice wilted yellowing, and mushy areas, prune them away and stop watering. It is possible to recover from root rot, but severely damaged plants should be culled. 

Frequently Asked Questions