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View Full Version : An orange flower, large leaves - what is it?


Angie1366
November 24th, 2006, 07:22 PM
I have recently moved into a house with a few plants that astonish me - please can you help with what this is?
It has 5 petals in a cup shape please see photo - I put a pen in to give idea of size. It is about 4 foot high in the garden growing up into another bush.

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Miranda
November 25th, 2006, 02:21 PM
It's an Abutilon of some sort, Angie. Beautiful.

If you're in the UK, I doubt it will come through the winter without either being brought indoors or given protection.

What else is there in your garden? Got any more pics?
Angie1366
November 26th, 2006, 12:50 PM
The plant was just a stick in the ground and it started growing about 4 weeks ago - We are in Milton Keynes. The weather has been very mild so I suppose that is why it seems ok!

Here is a pic of another that stumped us - I ended up trawling through the Royal Horticultural book - and guess it is related to the Brazilian Firecracker - Because of the shape of the leaves we think it is the firecracker vine.

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It is still in flower and growing up through another bush - it is against the wall of a bungalow at the back of the garden and is at it's highest about 7 feet tall!

That is all we seem to have of any unusual nature. I can't wait to get stuck in - we will start the garden in the spring.
Angie1366
November 26th, 2006, 12:58 PM
I cannot believe it!

I typed in abutilon to google image and up pops both my plants! The firecracker one and my orange one - MIRANDA IS A STAR!
Miranda
November 26th, 2006, 02:04 PM
Glad I could help, Angie :)

We have that dainty-flowered Abutilon in the garden too. It isn't supposed to be hardy but this one has come through all the winters so far. As we're in north Lincolnshire this surprises me a bit. It's protected by a fence and a greenhouse so that may be it. Whatever, it's a lovely plant and the sun shining through the flowers is beautiful to see.

The survival of less hardy plants over winter can be as much to do with what type of soil you have as the climate itself. We garden on sharp draining sand so the roots don't get the cold sogginess that could finish them off on a water retentive clay soil.

I hope you enjoy your garden, Angie. It sounds like you're very excited about it :)