Common Name: Trailing Abutilon

General Information

Abutilon megapotamicum is a much-branched, evergreen shrub of graceful, lax habit. It can grow around 1.8 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested for its edible flowers. It is often cultivated as an ornamental, valued especially for these attractive flowers.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S. America - southern Brazil.

Habitat

Widely cultivated in the Tropics and subtropics, and not known in a truly wild situation.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental

Cultivation Details

Abutilon megapotamicum is a plant of the warm temperate to subtropical zone of southern Brazil. It only succeeds outdoors in the warmer parts of the temperate zone, though it can tolerate temperatures down to between -5 to -10°c when given the protection of a sunny, sheltered wall[, , ]. A deep mulch in winter and tying in growth to the wall will maximise protection in winter[]. If the plant is cut back by cold weather, it will often resprout from the base in the spring and can flower on the current year's growth[].
Requires a sunny position or part day shade in a fertile well-drained soil[]. Dislikes drought[].
Dead-heading plants to prevent seeding can enhance longevity[].
Tip-prune young plants to promote a bushy habit, older plants can be cut back hard annually in spring if required[].
There are some named forms, selected for their ornamental value[]. There is a variegated form in cultivation, this variegation is as a result of infection by abutilon mosaic virus[, ].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Flowers - raw or cooked. Used as a vegetable[]. A pleasant sweet flavour, we find them delicious to eat raw[]. The flowers are produced from mid spring until the autumn - they produce nectar all the time they are open so, assuming the plant is grown indoors and is not visited by pollinating insects, the sweetness increases the longer the flower is open[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[]. Germination should take place within a few weeks. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots. Grow them on for at least the first winter in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of young shoots, early summer in a frame[]. Grow on in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant out in spring after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame[]. Grow on in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant out in spring after the last expected frosts.