Chinese Lantern, Abutilon
Plant Size Guide

Chinese Lantern Abutilon
abutilon pictum
days to maturity:
plant spacing: 1 plant per 6 square feet
sunlight requirements: 8-14 hours
look out for: nothing!
harvest notes: not edible
perennial
Since this plant has so many names we are often combining them improperly and making up fake ones by accident. Flowering maple, Chinese Lantern, red veined Indian Mallow and Abutilon are the most common ones for this beautiful mallow variety. You may recognize the flower shape as a hibiscus variety, and you would be correct, since all hibiscus varieties (even roselle and okra) are in the mallow family. Since all hibiscus flowers are edible, that means this cutie is too! Expect your Chinese Lantern shrub to get about 8 feet tall and flower year round. It will respond well to pruning for shape and will make lots of flowers on its new growth. When harvesting the flowers to eat keep an eye out for bees hanging out in the bell shaped flower, they love the pollen!
Delivery Details
Delivery Details
When you place your order we head into our greenhouse to select the very best plants we have in stock for your garden. We label them with handwritten compostable wooden labels and pack them in recyclable boxes to keep them safe on their journey. Our delivery partners, Roadie, take it from there and head to the Redlands to pick up your order. Communication and tracking take place via Roadie and your driver will leave your plants in a safe and covered area.
Plant Care
Plant Care
When your plant delivery arrives, make sure you water your new plants thoroughly with a light spray of water (none of this thumb over the hose stuff). We recommend planting them within 10 days of receiving them. If you do intent to wait to plant them, we recommend placing them in a shallow reservoir (like a baking pan) and filling it with half an inch of water so they can drink the water from below while you are at work and place them in an area with plenty of sun. When planting in your garden always add a dash of Organic granular fertilizer, and give them extra water during their first week in their new home, while they adjust. We recommend disturbing the root ball as little as possible during planting.
About Our Plants
About Our Plants
All of our plants are grown in OMRI certified Organic materials (potting mix, fertilizer, seeds, etc.) and include Organic granular fertilizer, living locally-made compost, and have been cared for with healthy microorganisms from compost tea and microbial inoculants. We only use organic pesticides when needed. We only stock varieties that we have experience growing and that are season and climate appropriate for South Florida. Our curated inventory is simple enough for a beginner and interesting enough to keep an advanced gardeners attention, with new and rare varieties being added weekly.
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Now Little River Nursery & Little River Gardens
Two new names, one guiding vision; to empower people through food and ecology. For more information on our garden installation services visit the Little River Gardens website.

