Abutilon x Suntense
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
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 September it was showing signs of growth. Here we are, now in early June of 2012 and it has a number of blooms, pictures below. Will it return to its former glory, not so sure.
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Our back garden is really made up of several areas. Below is a picture of which we call, our round garden, taken just a few days ago on November 5th.
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This is the entrance in to the back garden going through the front gate.
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Here is an area at the bottom of the garden which only becomes visible when the gate is open. Our grandson Owen named it the secret garden.
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This is our small garden pond.
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The woodland area at the very bottom of the garden.
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Our sheltered patio
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And here is the main area of our back garden.
Hello Colin
When we were moving to Fife from Cheshire I happened to check rainfall and sunshine in the area and yes I did see Dundee as the sunniest place in Scotland. Its five years now since we left Aberdeen and we still miss the garden. The Abutilon, I have no supplier suggestions.
Beautiful. Loved the silver and scarlet bedding scheme and all the gardens in your garden. I garden in Dundee and like yourself can grow plants that are not recommended for N.E. Scotland. Dundee is Scotland’s sunniest City. We only get 35″ of rain annually. Surrounding hills and our large river estuary create a microclimate. I can create the much sought after English Garden look with ease plus the ‘exotic’ tender plants do surprisingly well too. Where cam I buy A x suntense – cuttings raised – not seed? Because many seed raised are inferior to the genuine hybrid? David Austin English Roses thrive here in Dundee
Hi Bill, Our Abutilon has finally given up the ghost after performing well for many years. They are said to be short lived. I haven’t tried any of the plants you suggest. Sometimes its good to push the boundaries, prepare for failure though.
Hello Alistair,
How are you still getting on with this Abutilon? I wanted to try one up at Westhill but I fear it may be too cold. I wanted to try other borderline plants and shrubs like Desfontania, Embothryium and the Pineapple Broom but fear there isn’t enough warmth. Have you grown any of those? Great site by the way, very helpful.
Many Thanks
Bill
Hi Val, In spite of me saying fully hardy I have in the post given information as to how it struggled to come through the severe Winter of 2010. We have been using Celsius temps over here for some time now, but I have it figured out. Our Winter is not as cold as yours and here on the coast plus 5f would be as cold as it would get, more likely to get temps of between +20/45 in Winter. However this would perhaps make you think we have glorious Summers, we don’t its usually anything between 56/70 we get an occasional burst of higher temps. In spite of my Abutilon still being in the land of the living I am off to change it to (Frost Hardy)
Your Abutilon is exquisite. When you say fully hardy, how cold do you get? I’m in zone 6 in Michigan, USA which means usually no colder than -12 F.but it hasn’t gotten that cold in years. More like 0F. I found you by Google photo search.Beautiful garden.
You are very kind Maria
Your garden is wonderful, I have no words to describe it.
From now on I will follow your web.
Best regards
María José
Your garden looks great! love the patio and the entrance
Edith, heaven forbid.
Thanks Larry
I love all your wonderful garden “rooms” Alistair! Larry
Dear Alistair, The Abutilon was fully deserving of your words of praise……no, wordless would not have done it justice. As for me, as you may imagine……I can never be wordless……quite impossible!!
Thanks Eliza, this is the first Winter in which it has lost its leaves, still optimistic.
Thank you Donna, the round garden has had countless changes in the time we have been here.
You garden is beautiful. I love your round garden. It is so lush and full.
First — your garden photos are amazing! I can’t imagine the work you put into making it look so magazine-ready.
Now to the abutilon — I have never seen one like that before! The bloom color is so unusual and the quantity of them is stunning! I can see why it would burn itself out, smart of you to take cuttings to preserve it.