Abutilon megapotamicumIf you've caught the fancy for the colorful hoop skirts of flowering maples (Abutilon), you may be aware that with this large genus, winter survival can be an issue. The species most likely to survive a Northwest winter is
Abutilon megapotamicum
, according to Paul Bonine, co-owner of
where they grow
Because the species sits pretty much on the fence of our Zone 8 winters -- some a bit hardier and some less -- microclimates come into play. So plant them in a sheltered place. They're more likely to survive winter in the ground than in a pot, but if you grow one in a container, move it next to a south wall during cold weather and be sure to water if it's under the eaves.
Bonine's tips on caring for
Abutilon
:
•
Plant in spring in a sheltered spot in part sun. You don't want it in full south-facing sun.
•
Don't prune until you see new growth in spring. You can just prune off dead wood or prune hard for a bushier plant.
•
At the same time you prune, fertilize with bone meal or other low-nitrogen fertilizer (the first number on fertilizer packages).
•
If your plant freezes to the ground, cut it back and mulch it. Give it a fertilizer high in phosphorus (the middle number).
•
Flowering maples are less hardy in containers, so if you plan to pot them, consider using them as annuals and replanting new ones each year.
-- Homes & Gardens staff
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