Re: Abutilon and background shrubs
- Subject: Re: Abutilon and background shrubs
- From: T* a* M* R*
- Date: Thu, 07 Mar 2002 09:13:56 +1300
John MacGregor wrote:
>
> Nan Sterman wrote:
>
> > I have a question about abutilons for you. I recall one you had
> > along the driveway in Cynthia Hall's garden that had rose red flowers
> > -- maybe a bit darker. I've looked high and low for one with flowers
> > that color and the only one I've come across is Nabob from Monterey
> > Bay Growers. Is that what she has?
>
Nan,
I take it you are talking about a variety of Abutilon X hybridum. I have
an old and not all that exciting light orange one in my garden, which I
grew from a cutting about thirty years ago. I have kept it largely
because it is so floriferous and long in flower and resistant to any
frost the season can throw at it (and a great favourite with bumble
bees), but in addition it is a fruitful source of seedlings. For many
years these were always true to colour, but somewhere about fifteen
yeasrs since it began to throw children of different colours, including
a very rich deep burgandy, a light pinkish-orange and latterly some
whites and lemon shades. I have accomodated many of these in my own
patch, and now have a son with a large garden who will take any of my
surplus. A few years ago i bought a clear pink form, but this is planted
well away grom "old faithful" and so far I can't say for sure any
crossing is occurring.
As to the suorce of the variation of colour from the original plant, I
am sure nobody around me has a bush, so I can only conclude there has
been a certain amount of minor mutation occurring.
My point is that if anybody has this attractive and garden worthy
cultivar they might get some interesting varients from natural seeding.
Desirable colours can often be multiplied quite easily from cuttings.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan
Wainuiomata NZ,
where it's Summer in January and Winter in July.
