Abutilon ‘Souvenir de Bonn’ is a popular choice for gardeners. Often called Flowering Maple due to its foliage, this plant captivates with its distinctive bell-shaped flowers and variegated leaves.
Meet Abutilon Souvenir de Bonn
Abutilon ‘Souvenir de Bonn’ is an upright, evergreen shrub. Its large, maple-like leaves display a rich dark green color with prominent creamy-yellow margins. Dangling from its branches are salmon-orange, bell-shaped flowers, approximately 2.5 inches long, adorned with delicate dark red veins. These blooms resemble miniature Chinese lanterns and can appear for many months, attracting pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds.
This plant grows as a shrub, reaching heights of 3 to 10 feet and spreads of 2 to 8 feet. It can also be trained into a tree form or grown in containers. It thrives outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11, blooming year-round in frost-free areas. In cooler climates, it serves as an excellent houseplant, bringing tropical charm indoors during colder months.
Caring for Your Abutilon Souvenir de Bonn
It prefers bright, indirect light, ideally receiving 6-8 hours of sunlight daily. Too much direct sun, particularly intense afternoon sun, can scorch its variegated leaves, while insufficient light may lead to leggy growth and reduced blooming.
Keep the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged. Check the soil moisture before watering, ensuring the top inch or two has dried out. Good drainage is paramount to prevent root issues.
A well-draining, fertile potting mix supports healthy growth. A slightly acidic to neutral soil pH is suitable. When potting, select a container with adequate drainage holes and a size appropriate for the plant’s root ball to ensure proper aeration and prevent water retention.
This plant thrives in moderate temperatures, ideally between 65°F and 75°F, and appreciates moderate to high humidity. Protect it from cold drafts, especially indoors. To increase humidity for indoor plants, consider using pebble trays or misting the foliage.
During its active growing season from spring to fall, a regular feeding schedule with a balanced liquid fertilizer promotes vigorous growth and abundant blooms. Fertilize every 2-4 weeks. Reduce or cease fertilization during the winter months when growth slows.
Pruning maintains the plant’s shape, encourages bushiness, and promotes more flowers. Pinch back stem tips when the plant is young for a fuller form. More extensive pruning can be done in late winter or early spring to remove leggy or dead growth and control its size.
Propagating Abutilon Souvenir de Bonn
Propagating Abutilon ‘Souvenir de Bonn’ is done through stem cuttings. Select healthy, semi-ripe stems, 4-6 inches long, during the growing season. Use clean, sharp tools to cut just below a leaf node, as this area contains growth hormones that aid in rooting.
Remove the lower leaves from the cutting to expose about half of the stem, preventing them from rotting. While optional, dipping the cut end in rooting hormone can enhance rooting. Plant cuttings into a suitable rooting medium such as perlite, vermiculite, or a light, well-draining potting mix.
Provide consistent warmth, indirect light, and high humidity. A propagation dome or plastic bag helps maintain humidity. Roots form within a few weeks; once a robust root system develops, transplant new plants into individual pots.
Common Challenges and Solutions
Abutilon ‘Souvenir de Bonn’ can encounter common issues, primarily pests and environmental stressors. Pests like spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, and mealybugs may affect the plant. Regularly inspecting the undersides of leaves helps identify infestations early. Control methods include wiping leaves, using insecticidal soap, or applying neem oil.
Fungal issues, such as powdery mildew, can occur, particularly in humid conditions with poor air circulation. Ensuring good airflow and keeping leaves dry helps prevent these problems. If a fungal issue develops, appropriate fungicides may be considered.
Environmental stress manifests through visible symptoms. A lack of blooms can indicate insufficient light, nutrients, or improper pruning. Adjusting light exposure or fertilizer, and ensuring proper pruning, often resolves this. Yellowing leaves might suggest overwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or temperature stress. Allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings, providing balanced fertilizer, and maintaining stable temperatures can help.
Leaf drop can result from sudden environmental changes, such as moving the plant, or from issues like under or overwatering, or pest infestations. Addressing the underlying cause is key. Leggy growth, characterized by stretched stems with sparse foliage, is a sign of insufficient light. Moving the plant to a brighter location and pruning to encourage bushier growth can correct this.