About

Abutilon 'John Thompson' is an evergreen shrub that typically reaches a height of about 2 meters. It features slender, arching branches adorned with bright green foliage characterized by narrow, pointed lobes. From summer through early autumn, this plant produces pendant, bell-shaped yellow flowers that hang gracefully from the young stems.

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
Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Well-drained
Aspect
South-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H3

Plant details

Plant type
Shrubs, Conservatory Greenhouse
Habit
Spreading branched
Foliage
Evergreen
Height
1.5-2.5 metres
Spread
1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height
5-10 years
Suggested uses
City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Sub-tropical

Care notes

Cultivation
Thrives in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny, sheltered position. Ideal for a protected warm wall or large conservatory. May need winter protection
Pruning
Pruning group 9; or pruning group 13 for wall-trained specimens
Propagation
Propagate by softwood and semi-ripe cuttings at any time; hardwood cuttings in autumn
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly, glasshouse red spider mite, mealybugs and scale insects
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely) or a virus