What I got back from PDN about Abutilon

Abutilons love the heat and humidity. They will perform their best in full sun to part sun. To much shade, especially in the afternoon will cause them to look leggy. They do not like to go terribly dry. You will notice them wilting or the leaves may even turn yellow if it's too dry. After plenty of water during root establishment, they will grow well with watering once or twice per week.

Adrienne R. Roethling
Garden Curator of
Juniper Level Botanic Gardens
at Plant Delights Nursery Inc.
9241 Sauls Road
Raleigh NC 27603
phone-919-772-4794
fax 919-662-0370
adrienne@plantdelights.com
www.plantdelights.com
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Core,
I've grown them here for about 3 years now and have found that they do not care much for afternoon sun. Mine get only morning sun, do not get leggy and even with our terrible drought this past summer, did not scream for water. They actually did really well.
Alice

Hmmmm. I want to try some abutilon but no one has anything good to say about them here. Think you may be an enabler. LOL. I have a few spots that get filtered sun all day and I'm thinking abutilon of some sort would be a good idea. I've pretty much run out of full sun. Ardesia who lives right up the road from me hasn't had luck with these plants which makes me wonder if they'll grow here.

Think I'll jut have to give one a try. What varities are you growing Alice?

I have this one, trailing Imp
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/68784/
Rosalie
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/62100/
And a couple of unknowns that I grew from seeds.
Maybe you could find someone who has some seeds to share, mine bloomed first year from seeds...that way if they don't do well for you, you're not out much.
Alice

Congrats for getting a reply from PDN, Core! You must be somebody!!! I couldn't find anything, anywhere, on pruning Asaragus virgata, so I e-mailed them for help. Since I bought the thing from them, I figured they might know. Got Nada! Zilch! If anybody out there has experience with this plant, please help! Do I prune it back to nubbins, or do I just prune off the obviously dead stuff? Gorgeous plant, just dont want to screw up future growth by whacking it back importunely...

LOL, I thought the same about PDN; they have never responded to any of my inquiries. Core, you are on a roll.

I have strange luck at being able to find things out. Don't know why but it seems to happen to me a lot.

Two days ago I sent these guys an e-mail about pawpaws. http://www.petersonpawpaws.com/
Like clock work back came an answer.

Asparagus Virgata, AKA Broom fern, Tree Fern, Tiki.

I couldn't find out much detailed info about growing it outdoors but it spreads underground by roots so if it is getting ungainly or you want to encourage more growth, I would cut it back in early spring to about 1/3. Here's a couple links I found:
http://books.google.com/books?id=qjEBt3MPGZAC&pg=PA247&lpg=PA247&dq=broom+fern&source=web&ots=aGT2OCCvp_&sig=_C6tSE4jk15nAi3EKYynguyiuQU

http://zipcodezoo.com/Plants/A/Asparagus_virgatus.asp



This message was edited Feb 15, 2008 9:06 AM

I grew Asparagus densiflorus "Sprengeri" plants from seeds I got in Puerto Rico where it grows wild; I would think it's related to your plant as it's also a South African native.

In the spring I used to cut out the old brown fronds right down to the soil, which was not an easy thing because it had vicious thorns.

I even totally chopped it down one year and just piled some fresh soil on top and it grew back just fine but it did take a while to get as bushy as it was before..

Consider yourself lucky it took a while to come back. That stuff is terribly invasive down here although you see it sold everywhere. It is almost impossible to get rid of it as it self seeds all over.

Excuse me for butting in but on the flowering Abutilon, this Texas thread has a DGr that has success in Houston so there must be southern varieties. I have always lusted after them and hope to add one also. Thanks for the suggestions on the varieties. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/809932/ pod

I'm still waiting patiently for the seeds I planted to germinate. The TM Database says 20 - 30 days.

X

My reference book "Seeds" also says germination in 3-4 weeks.

The part my patience could not endure is when started from seed,

I'm an abutilon killer, so no help from me. :( I have hopes of keeping one alive one day.

I was wandering through Savannah this past fall and took this picture of an abutlilon mixed up with another vine just cascading over a wall. It was lovely- I adore pink and orange together. This abutilon was rampant- like sweet potato vine. So there must be some trick in this area. Maybe it likes it feet in the shade like clematis.

Jenny

You know, the hibiscus ablemoschus looks so much like the abutalons that have the little lantern shaped flowers. They only come in pink and red but they get huge and I think they are a great substitute for the real thing.

Opps, I meant Hibiscus Malvaviscus.

This message was edited Feb 17, 2008 3:57 PM

I agree! I can grow the the the turks cap, they like me! On the same trip to Savannah there was this lovely malvaviscus growing by the sidewalk. Ardesia, see if you recognize anyone in this picture...

I have to pay better attention when I'm down in SAV.

Wow, that is a huge Turks Cap! Maybe I had better move mine before it gets that big.

LOL, yes I did recognize a few....
She is taking the current class down there this coming Saturday. I would tag along if I wasn't frantically transplanting. We are about to start the long awaited remodeling and all greenery in the way has to go somewhere else. Not to mention I have to clean out that attic so the workers can get in there. Agggghhhhhh

Going to put that Turks cap on my seed shopping list 2008. I'll have to figure out where that one in the picture is down in SAV. Little seed napping would be the easiest.

Ned carries them if you get impatient. :-)))

I feel like I'm butting in, but who is Ned?

Ned Rahn of Plant Folks Nursery in Beaufort. He raises and sells hardy citrus and assorted other semi tropicals.