Abutilon pictum Red | Flowering Maple | Indian Mallow | Chinese Lantern | 20_Seeds

🌺 Product Description: Abutilon pictum ‘Red’ Seeds

Bring home seeds of the Red‑veined Abutilon, botanical elegance with a carnival of vibrant color. This stunning species—or its red‑flowered selection—unfolds into a riot of bell‑shaped, deep orange‑red blossoms streaked with dramatic dark veins, appearing like lanterns lit from within.

🌸 Bloom & Fragrance

• Bloom Color: Rich orange‑red petaled bells with dark red venation that deepens toward the center—each bloom 5 petals, 2–4 cm long, hanging delicately like painted paper lanterns.

• Fragrance: These flowers are not notably fragrant; their allure is visual poetry in motion.

❄️ Hardiness & Growth Conditions

• USDA Hardiness Zones: Zones 8–11, hardy in warm temperate to subtropical gardens, but frost‑tender and best sheltered or container‑grown where winters dip below freezing.

• Habit: Evergreen sub‑tropical shrub reaching 1–3 m (sometimes up to 5 m) tall with lobed leaves reminiscent of maples and abundant blooms from spring through fall—blooming nearly year‑round in frost‑free climates.

🐝 Wildlife & Pollinator Benefits

• Attracts Pollinators: The pendulous, nectar‑rich flowers are magnets for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies—creating living movement in the garden.

• Larval Hosts: There’s no clear evidence of butterfly or moth larvae using this species as a host; the allure lies in the nectar access it provides to flying pollinators.

🌍 Cultural Significance & Fascinating Facts

• Botanical Name Origins: The genus name Abutilon traces to an Arabic term for mallow-like plants; the species epithet pictum means “painted”—a fitting tribute to its veined floral artistry.

• Garden Heritage: Known as “flowering maple” or “Chinese lantern,” this plant has graced Victorian parlors as indoor ornamentals, prized for foliage and draping blooms.

• Edible Blooms: The flowers are edible, raw or cooked, with a sweet flavor that intensifies the longer the blossom remains open.

🔎 Interesting Botanical Insights

• Bloom Time: Flowers flush prolifically from April through September, often longer in mild climates—even nearly year-round bloom under frost‑free conditions.

• Soil & Water Sensitivity: Prefers moist, fertile, well‑drained soils; dislikes drought and must avoid dryness to maintain bloom and foliage vigor.

• Maintenance Tips: Pinching back helps keep a compact, bushy form—without pruning it may become leggy; thrives with regular feeding and light shade in hottest climates.

🌱 How to Grow & Care

1. Start Seeds Indoors: Germinate in spring under warmth and consistent moisture; seedlings may take a year or more to bloom.

2. Transplant Carefully: Move outdoors after last frost into rich soil, in full sun to part shade.

3. Water Regularly: Even moisture is key—avoid letting the soil dry out.

4. Prune for Flowers: Pinch spent blooms and trim back stems to encourage new flowering wood.

5. Winter Care: In zones below 9, grow in containers and bring indoors before frost for winter protection.

🌟 Why Gardeners Adore These Seeds

• Color Drama: Each bell-shaped flower is a mini painted lantern—deep red-orange with glowing veins.

• Pollinator Magnet: A flutter garden of hummingbirds, bees, butterflies dancing around every bloom.

• Foliage and Form: Maple‑like lobed leaves add garden structure even when not in bloom.

• Victorian Charm, Modern Impact: A plant with heritage in parlors, now reimagined in contemporary gardens or containers.

• Edible Beauty: Harvest blossoms to garnish salads, desserts, or teas—nature’s sweet petals at your fingertips.

Grow Abutilon pictum Red from seed to cultivate not just a flowering shrub, but a spectacle of color, pollinator life, and botanical brilliance—a living canvas painted by nature.