The abutilon plant, also known as Chinese lantern or flowering maple, is a versatile and eye-catching genus perfect for New Zealand gardens. Renowned for their maple-like foliage and nodding, bell-shaped flowers, abutilons bring a tropical flair to borders, patios, and containers. Their extended blooming season and nectar-rich blossoms make them a magnet for native birds like tūī and bellbirds, adding both beauty and biodiversity to your outdoor space.
Abutilon megapotamicum, commonly known as Trailing Abutilon or Chinese Lantern, is a graceful shrub with arching stems and distinctive red and yellow...
Abutilon 'Lucky Lantern White' is a compact evergreen shrub admired for its elegant lantern shaped white flowers that bloom over an extended period...
Abutilon 'Halo' is a striking flowering shrub admired for its soft green foliage and masses of glowing apricot orange blooms that appear from spring...
Abutilon 'Hot Pink' is a vibrant flowering shrub admired for its masses of bright pink bell shaped blooms and long flowering season. The colourful...
Abutilon 'Lucky Lantern Orange' is a compact evergreen shrub prized for its masses of bright lantern shaped orange flowers that bloom over a long...
Abutilon 'Lucky Lantern Yellow' is a compact evergreen shrub prized for its cheerful lantern shaped yellow flowers that bloom over an extended...
Abutilon 'Orange' is a vibrant flowering shrub admired for its masses of glowing orange bell shaped flowers and long blooming season. The colourful...
Abutilon 'Red' is a stunning flowering shrub renowned for its rich red bell shaped flowers and long blooming season. The vibrant blooms hang...
Abutilon 'White Gold' is a beautiful flowering shrub admired for its elegant pale yellow to creamy white bell shaped flowers that appear over an...
Abutilon 'Yellow' is a cheerful flowering shrub prized for its bright yellow bell shaped flowers and long blooming season. The colourful blooms hang...
Abutilon 'Alba' is a graceful flowering shrub admired for its elegant white lantern shaped blooms and soft green foliage. The delicate flowers hang...
Abutilon 'Ashford Red' is a striking flowering shrub admired for its bell shaped, rich red blooms that appear from spring through autumn. The vibrant...
Abutilon 'Boule de Neige' is an elegant evergreen shrub renowned for its pure white pendulous bell shaped flowers that bloom over an extended season...
Abutilon 'Golden Fleece' is a delightful flowering shrub celebrated for its abundant golden yellow, bell shaped blooms that brighten gardens from...
Abutilon 'Lucky Lantern Red' is a compact evergreen shrub celebrated for its vibrant lantern shaped red flowers that bloom continuously through the...
Abutilon megapotamicum 'Variegatum' is a colourful evergreen shrub admired for its cream and green variegated foliage and elegant pendulous flowers...
Abutilon 'Nabob' is an evergreen flowering shrub renowned for its large, pendulous deep crimson red flowers that bloom over an extended period. Its...
Abutilon palmeri is a drought tolerant evergreen shrub valued for its soft silver grey foliage and cheerful golden yellow cup shaped flowers that...
Abutilon pictum is a fast growing evergreen shrub prized for its attractive maple like foliage and showy pendulous orange flowers highlighted with...
Abutilon 'Pink' is a charming flowering shrub known for its soft pink, bell shaped blooms that appear from spring to autumn. Its elegant arching...
Abutilon 'Red Emperor', known as Chinese Lantern, Red Flowering Maple, or Parlour Maple, produces clusters of dark red, bell-shaped flowers from...
Abutilon Roseus is a graceful flowering shrub admired for its elegant rose pink, bell shaped blooms that appear from spring through autumn. The...
Abutilon 'Souvenir de Bonn' is a stunning variegated flowering shrub prized for its soft orange bell shaped blooms and green leaves edged with creamy...
Abutilon striatum is a fast growing evergreen shrub admired for its pendulous orange to red bell shaped flowers with distinctive darker veins...
Abutilon 'Thompsonii' is a striking evergreen shrub prized for its beautifully variegated green and yellow foliage and pendulous orange bell shaped...
Abutilon 'Victor Reiter' is an outstanding evergreen shrub renowned for its large rich orange bell shaped flowers that are carried over a long...
Abutilon vitifolium is a spectacular flowering shrub admired for its large soft lavender flowers and attractive velvety foliage. Flowering through...
Abutilon 'Voodoo' is a striking flowering shrub admired for its deep crimson red, bell shaped blooms that appear continuously from spring through...
You might be interested in exploring our full range of abutilon or related Categories - Deciduous Shrubs, and Evergreen Shrubs. Alternatively, forage through similar ideas like abutilon indian mallow, and abutilon purple.
Search abutilon plantAbutilon plants belong to the mallow family and comprise over 150 species and hybrids. These evergreen or semi-evergreen shrubs are celebrated for their graceful, arching branches and continuous display of colourful lantern-like flowers from spring through late autumn. Abutilons are highly adaptable, thriving in full sun or part shade, and are tolerant to a range of soils as long as they are well-drained.
There’s an abutilon plant for every style—whether you love soft pastels or vivid pops of colour. Some favourites include:
Abutilon plants are generally easy to grow, thriving best in mild, frost-free climates typical of many parts of New Zealand. Plant your abutilon in a spot that receives morning sun and dappled afternoon shade—too much direct sun can scorch tender foliage. Well-drained, humus-rich soil is ideal, and a layer of mulch in summer will help retain moisture.
Regular feeding with a balanced fertiliser encourages lush growth and repeat flowering. To maintain bushy shape, lightly prune back after the main flowering flush, removing older wood and any spindly growth. Abutilons respond well to pruning and can even be shaped into patio standards for a more formal look.
The abutilon plant delivers on beauty, bird attraction, and ease of care. Their long flowering season ensures months of garden colour, while their resilience makes them suitable for gardeners of all skill levels. Whether mass-planted along fences, grown as specimen shrubs, or brightening up a small balcony pot, abutilons are a reliable choice for year-round interest.
Looking for the perfect variety? Explore Abutilon megapotamicum, Abutilon White Gold (Chinese Lantern), Abutilon Lucky Lantern White, Abutilon Hot Pink, and Abutilon Orange to discover which abutilon will thrive in your own corner of New Zealand.
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