The Abutilon group are either small trees or shrubs - not always totally hardy. There are several which have Maple-like foliage - sometimes variegated.
Abutilon plants – or flowering maples as also known – have a dual use for the garden. Their foliage is often attractive with a wide range of flower colours in forms from pendulous bells to open five-petal saucers.
Typical flower of Abutilon shrubs - Abutilon 'Canary Bird'
Not many – if any – of the Abutilon plants are fully hardy, though I have known one or two to live a charmed life through reasonable harsh winters when planted in the right place.
Canary Bird Abutilon
Flowering Maples are generally small to large shrubs, but sometimes small trees owing to their ability to grow on single or multi stemmed central trunk. For most gardeners and gardens in temperate areas, they are shrubs.
Abutilons are sometimes evergreen, semi-evergreen or deciduous depending on variety and planting position.
All types - even if stated to be hardy - should be grown in a sheltered place - preferably in full sun. Cuttings from all types are easy to root, and as precaution, cuttings should be taken and over wintered in a frost free environment, to ensure continuation for the following year.
The common name of Flowering Maple describes the foliage rather than flowers, for the leaves are often fully palmate or at least 5-lobed as with many Acers or maples.
Abutilons are not maples, but belong to the same family as the mallows and Hibiscus – Malvaceae. Other than botanical detail that determines the family group, all of the flowers share the distinct central style (female) surrounded at the base by the pollen- bearing anthers (male).
Flower colours of the various Abutilons range from deep red, through violet, pale pink and purest white.
Some of the variegated forms make good houseplants – or patio pot plants. All will grow in a container if large enough.