Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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purple abutilon tree

The purple abutilon tree is a stunning choice for New Zealand gardeners seeking unusual colour and form in their landscape. Admired for its delicate, bell-shaped flowers and graceful, slightly arching branches, this small tree brings months of vibrant purple blooms, attracting bees and native birds to your garden. Combining a lush display with easy care, the purple abutilon tree is perfectly suited to a range of Kiwi garden styles, from cottage borders to modern urban spaces.

Abutilon megapotamicum

Abutilon megapotamicum, commonly known as Trailing Abutilon or Chinese Lantern, is a graceful shrub with arching stems and distinctive red and yellow lantern shaped flowers. Blooming from spring to autumn, this variety adds elegance and colour to NZ gardens. Its semi evergreen habit and fine foliage make it ideal for cascading over walls, training on trellises, or brightening borders with its long flowering display.

Buy Abutilon megapotamicum

From $26.93

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 1.20 m

Spread: 1.20 m

Flowering time: Spring, Autumn, Winter

Garden uses: Living areas, Parks, Pool areas, Specimen

Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Rock, Tropical

Corylus maxima Purpurea

Corylus maxima Purpurea, commonly known as the Purple-Leaved Filbert tree, is grown for its attractive foliage and interesting catkins. This deciduous tree typically grows to 6 m tall and the same wide bearing deep purple, serrated leaves held on multiple stems. Corylus maxima Purpurea is commonly grown as a specimen tree.

Buy Corylus maxima Purpurea

From $299.92

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Trees

Height: 6.00 m

Spread: 6.00 m

Flowering time: Spring

Tolerances: Hardy

Garden uses: Hedging

Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean

Why Choose a Purple Abutilon Tree?

Choosing a purple abutilon tree instantly adds a touch of the exotic while maintaining a relaxed, friendly vibe in your outdoor space. This tree typically grows between 2 and 4 metres, making it ideal for small gardens, large containers, or as a striking specimen in mixed shrub beds. Its papery purple blossoms appear from spring through to autumn, providing consistent colour long after many other plants have finished flowering.

The large, soft leaves create gentle shade, making the purple abutilon tree a popular choice for sitting areas, courtyards, or understory plantings. As an added bonus, the flowers are loved by pollinators, making this tree a perfect partner for eco-friendly and sustainable gardens.

Planting and Caring for Purple Abutilon Trees

The purple abutilon tree is relatively undemanding. It thrives best in full sun to part shade and prefers well-drained, fertile soil. When planting, position your tree where it can make the most of morning sunlight and enjoy shelter from harsh winds. Regular mulching and a slow-release fertiliser application in early spring will keep your abutilon in top form.

Pruning is rarely required but can help maintain shape and size. Simply remove any damaged or wayward growth after flowering. As the purple abutilon tree is semi-deciduous in cooler regions, it may drop some leaves in winter and bounce back vigorously come spring.

Landscaping with Abutilon and Other Purple Foliage

If you’re building a purple-themed garden or looking to create dynamic colour contrasts, pair the purple abutilon tree with other ornamental plants in luscious shades. Consider planting alongside Corylus maxima Purpurea for striking dark foliage, or Fagus sylvatica Dawyck Purple for dramatic vertical interest and rich, purple-toned leaves.

Mix your purple abutilon with shrubs such as Abutilon vitifolium, which offers a profusion of mauve blooms, or the trail-forming Abutilon megapotamicum, beloved for its unique “Chinese lantern” flowers. For a truly bold statement, try combining with the upright Fraxinus Purple Spire.

Purple Abutilon Tree FAQ

Is the purple abutilon tree evergreen?
It is semi-evergreen in New Zealand, often holding leaves year-round in mild climates, though it may shed briefly in colder areas.

Can I grow purple abutilon in a container?
Yes, the tree performs well in large pots with good drainage and regular feeding, perfect for patios and decks.

Does the purple abutilon tree attract birds and bees?
The nectar-rich flowers are a magnet for both, supporting local biodiversity.

Discover More Purple Beauties

Ready to transform your garden with a purple abutilon tree? Browse our full range of purple-themed specimens like Corylus maxima Purpurea, Fagus sylvatica Dawyck Purple, and Fraxinus Purple Spire to add lasting colour and interest to your outdoor oasis.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.