Abulilon suntense

The Abutilon 'Suntense' is a hardy bush with beautiful vigour and spectacular flowering in late spring. In May-June, it offers a profusion of large cup-shaped flowers, with a particularly bright mauve colour. They bloom with ample foliage of beautiful dark green-grey, lobed and mostly evergreen. Hardy down to -5°C (23°F) without protection, and even more in a sheltered location. This abutilon is not the most well-known, but it is one of the most attractive and hardy. It thrives in full sun or partial shade, in well-drained soil, and can tolerate the occasional lack of water in summer. It can also be grown in a large pot in cold climates, to be stored indoors during winter.

The Abutilon 'Suntense' is a horticultural creation resulting from the cross-breeding between Abutilon vitifolium, a large species native to Chile, and A. ochsenii, its close cousin native to southern and colder regions. In cultivation the average dimensions of this variety will reach 2.75m (9ft) in height and 2.25m (7.38 ft) in width, with rapid growth. Its lifespan is relatively long, especially if faded flowers are removed to prevent seed production. In spring, pendulous flowers appear on young branches, carried by long petioles. They are open, cup-shaped and 6cm (2.4in) wide, with a striking mauve colour and a dark yellow stamen centre. Each flower has a short lifespan, but they continuously bloom on the bush between May and June. The young shoots are grey-felted, developing into upright branches with grey-green leaves that turn dark green. The leaves are 10-12cm (3.9 - 4.7in) long, narrowly ovate, and deeply lobed with dentate edges. These leaves are evergreen in mild climates and deciduous elsewhere, with above-ground parts being destroyed below -5°C (23°F). The flowering is followed by the formation of numerous seeds that will germinate in spring.

More hardy than it seems and quite drought-resistant once well-established, the Abutilon 'Suntense' is a spectacular and tolerant bush capable of regrowing from the stump after enduring short freezes of around -9°C (15.8°F), if planted in a very sheltered location, such as against a south-facing wall. It can be planted in the ground, in a warm microclimate. Elsewhere, it can be easily grown in a large pot that can be placed on the terrace from April to October, in order to protect it from severe cold in winter. It pairs well with Solanum rantonetti or jasminoides, Sollya heterophylla, Campsis capreolata, Hardenbergia violacea, or Suzanne aux yeux noirs, among other generous and relatively hardy climbing plants with exotic charm.