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Malvaceae FAMILY

Callianthe picta

Callianthe picta

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Shrub
Growth—

Abutilon pictum is a plant of the warm temperate to subtropical zones, it is intolerant of temperatures that fall much below 0°c[1]. Growing the plant against a sunny, sheltered wall, applying a deep mulch in winter and tying in growth to the wall will maximise protection in winter[2]. If the plant is cut back by cold weather, it can resprout from the base in the spring and can flower on the current year's growth[3]. Requires a sunny position or part day shade in a fertile well-drained soil[2]. Dislikes drought[2]. A very ornamental plant, there are several named varieties[2]. Several of the cultivars have golden-variegated leaves caused by a virus infection, this infection can spread to other plants[1]. Tip-prune young plants to promote a bushy habit[2]. Older plants tend to get rather leggy, but can be cut back almost to the base in order to promote new growth. This is best done in late winter as the plant starts to come into growth[1]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[2].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[2]. Germination should take place within a few weeks. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots. Grow them on for at least the first winter in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of young shoots, early summer in a frame[2]. Grow on in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant out in spring after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame[2]. Grow on in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant out in spring after the last expected frosts. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Callianthe+picta>

Pollinators

Insects

References

  1. [1]Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 — Phillips. R. & Rix. M. · Pan Books, London. · 1998 · ISBN 0-330-37376-5 ↩︎Excellent photos of over 1,100 species and cultivars with habits and cultivation details plus a few plant uses. Many species are too tender for outdoors in Britain though there are many that can be grown outside.
  2. [2]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  3. [3]Climbers and Wall Shrubs. — Davis. B. · Viking. · 1990 · ISBN 0-670-82929-3 ↩︎Contains information on 2,000 species and cultivars, giving details of cultivation requirements. The text is terse but informative.
  4. [4]An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in Loja and Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador — Tene V. et al · 2007 · https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2006.10.032 · ISBN 0378-8741 ↩︎
  5. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎