27.06.2023 - 08:45 / aberdeengardening.co.uk
The Abutilon below, I had great difficulty finding which one it is. Finally I have traced it, and it is indeed Abutilon x Suntense.
Every so often you may see a plant or shrub which will strike you as not being suitable for our cooler climate in Aberdeen. The rather exotic looking Abutilon always gave me this impression, that is until we were given a cutting of one from a fellow gardener ten years ago.
It has been fast growing,has an abundance of pale blue/lilac flouncy blooms and flowers late May till the end of July.Within three years the shrub reached six feet, and now exceeds fifteen feet, I guess its more of a tree now.
I have had difficulty tracing the variety, everything seemed to suggest that it is Vitifolium, problem is RHS refers to Vitifolium as deciduous. I have as I said above traced it to be (Suntense) Our shrub is very much evergreen, how it survives in our Aberdeen garden with such vigour always surprises me.However this past severe Winter left it looking a little sorry for itself. Almost the end of May now and very pleased to see complete recovery.
Abutilon is often referred to as not being very long lived, possibly ten years makes it quite an old shrub. Their short lifespan is often attributed to the fact that they flower so profusely they virtually burn themselves out. I will take cuttings as a back up as I would hate to lose this very special specimen.
Height – 15ft plus
Hardiness – Frost Hardy (still in our garden after 12 yrs)
Position – Sheltered spot Full sun/Part shade
Mail order.
Further update —- In May of 2011 the leaves of the Abutilon had all dropped, this past Winter really had been severe. In late June, still no sign of growth, I decided to prune it hard back and by