Witness the delicate, pendulous blossoms that hang against Chinese lantern's foliage, and you'll wonder if this shrub has been decorated with handmade paper ornaments. Commonly seen as a potted houseplant, Abutilon hybrids are making the transition outside. And while they hold their leaves year-round, the seasonal floral display is without doubt worth enjoying outdoors. What better way to decorate the patio for spring and summer? Monrovia Botanical name: Abutilon x hybridum (name given to hybrid group)
Common names: Chinese lantern, flowering maple, Chinese bellflower
USDA zones: 9 to 11; most can tolerate temperatures down to 25 degrees Fahrenheit (find your zone)
Water requirement: Moderate to regular water, especially in summer
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: Up to 8 to 10 feet tall and wide
Benefits: Attracts hummingbirds and bees
Seasonal interest: Flowers spring and summer
When to plant: Plant softwood cuttings after the threat of frost has passed in spring.
Caution: The leaves are poisonous if ingested.

Shown: Abutilon x hybridum 'Vesuvius Red' Missouri Botanical Garden Shown: Abutilon x hybridum 'Bella Red' Monrovia Distinguishing traits. Soft, bright green leaves, similar to those of a maple, cover the shrub year-round.

Delicate, papery lanterns hang against the foliage, in hues from white and yellow to pink and red. Most species bloom spring through summer, though some flower almost nonstop.

Loose and pendulous in form, Chinese lantern quickly grows to its mature size — hybrids are available from dwarf to standard heights.

Shown: Abutilon x hybridum 'Albus' Missouri Botanical Garden Monrovia How to use it. Chinese lantern is commonly grown as a houseplant, earning it the nickname "parlor maple," but I prefer seeing it outside, weather permitting.

In temperate climates plant it where your garden receives morning sun and dappled afternoon shade, and allow the plant to arch and spread as an informal screen.

If cold winters prohibit your keeping Chinese lantern outside year-round, grow it as a potted plant instead, bringing it inside before the frost. Some gardeners even grow Chinese lantern as an annual.

Shown: Abutilon x hybridum 'Cascade Dawn' The Garden Route Company Planting notes. In cooler, coastal climates, Chinese lantern can tolerate more sun and less summer water. In hotter areas provide morning sun and dappled afternoon shade — keep it sheltered from intense sunlight. Plant it in well-drained soil and be sure to mulch, especially in hotter climates.

While the plant reaches maturity quickly, it has the tendency to get leggy; legginess can be controlled with pruning in early spring, prior to blooming. Pruning maintains a rounded form and keeps the size more compact. You can also pinch plants to encourage fullness.

Chinese lantern prefers monthly fertilizing once new growth starts, but it can produce leaves instead of flowers if too much is used; it has the tendency to drop leaves if not fed enough. Control scale and whitefly.

Shown: Abutilon x hybridum 'Patricia'

Photo by Stan Shebs