About

Abutilon 'Ashford Red' is an upright to sprawling evergreen shrub that can reach heights of up to 3 meters. It features pale green leaves that are divided into 3 to 5 lobes. From spring through autumn, this plant produces pendant, bell-shaped flowers that can grow as long as 8 centimeters.

About the genus

Abutilon encompasses a variety of growth forms, including evergreen and deciduous shrubs, trees, perennials, and annuals. The foliage can be either simple or palmately lobed, and the flowers are typically bell-shaped or bowl-shaped, frequently featuring prominent stamens.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun
Soil type
Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
Aspect
East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H2

Plant details

Plant type
Shrubs
Habit
Bushy
Foliage
Evergreen
Height
2.5-4 metres
Spread
1-1.5 metres
Time to full height
5-10 years
Suggested uses
Mediterranean climate plants, Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical

Care notes

Cultivation
Under glass, grow in peat-free, loam-based compost in full light. While in growth water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly. Water sparingly in winter. In milder areas train against a warm wall
Pruning
See pruning group 1
Propagation
Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring, or greenwood cuttings in summer
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly, mealybugs and scale insects
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely) or a virus