BBC Gardeners' World

Plant details

• Common Name: Trailing abutilon
• Genus: Abutilon
• Species: megapotamicum
• Skill Level: experienced
• Exposure: full sun
• Hardiness: tender
• Soil type: well-drained/light
• Height: 2m
• Spread: 2m
• Flowering period: June to October
• Time to take cuttings: May to July

This graceful shrub comes from dry mountain valleys in Brazil and is best grown against a warm wall with shelter from cold winds and frost. Slender stems are hung with showy, lantern-shaped flowers that appear over a long season. It is also an ideal plant for a cool conservatory or for growing in a tub that can be brought under cover in winter. They are easily propagated from summer cuttings, and this a wise insurance against winter damage, especially since the shrubs can be short-lived. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).