Abutilon ‘Tiger Eye’ Flowering Maple Live Plant – 2-3 Feet Tall – 3 Gallon Pot

Overview

Introduce a splash of vibrant color and unique charm to your outdoor space with the stunning abutilon tiger eye live plant. Also known as the Tiger Eye Flowering Maple, this captivating plant is celebrated for its truly distinctive blooms. Each flower is a miniature masterpiece, featuring brilliant yellow petals intricately veined with scarlet-red, creating a mesmerizing ‘tiger eye’ effect. These unusual, lantern-like flowers hang gracefully from deeply lobed foliage, evoking the elegance of Japanese lanterns. Perfect for container gardening, the abutilon tiger eye live plant quickly becomes a focal point, drawing admiration and conversation. Cultivated for its ornamental appeal, this live plant arrives ready to thrive in your garden or patio.

The Abutilon ‘Tiger Eye’ is a cultivar of the flowering maple (Abutilon x hybridum), which is not a true maple but rather a member of the mallow family. Its common name comes from the shape and texture of its leaves, which resemble those of maple trees. This particular variety is cherished for its continuous blooming throughout the warmer months, providing consistent visual interest. It’s a relatively fast-growing plant that adapts well to various conditions, making it a rewarding addition for both novice and experienced gardeners looking for an eye-catching, long-blooming specimen.

Key Benefits

The abutilon tiger eye live plant offers a multitude of benefits that make it a highly desirable addition to any garden or patio. Its unique aesthetic and robust nature contribute to its popularity:

• Stunning Visual Appeal: The primary draw of the ‘Tiger Eye’ is its extraordinary flowers. The vibrant yellow and scarlet-red veining creates a dramatic contrast, ensuring that this plant stands out. These ‘Japanese lantern’ blooms add an exotic and sophisticated touch to any setting.
• Long Blooming Season: Unlike many plants with fleeting blossoms, the Abutilon ‘Tiger Eye’ provides a continuous display of flowers from spring through fall, and even into winter in warmer climates. This extended bloom time ensures consistent color and interest in your garden.
• Attractive Foliage: Beyond its flowers, the deeply lobed, maple-like leaves of the abutilon tiger eye live plant provide an attractive backdrop. The lush green foliage enhances the beauty of the colorful blooms and adds texture to your plant arrangements.
• Versatile Container Plant: This plant is an excellent choice for container gardening, making it perfect for patios, balconies, and small gardens. Its manageable size and upright growth habit allow it to be easily moved and integrated into various landscape designs.
• Attracts Pollinators: The bright, nectar-rich flowers of the tiger eye plant are a magnet for hummingbirds and butterflies, bringing lively activity and biodiversity to your garden space.
• Relatively Low Maintenance: Once established, the Abutilon ‘Tiger Eye’ is not overly demanding. With proper watering and occasional feeding, it will flourish, rewarding you with its spectacular display without requiring constant attention.
• Unique and Eye-Catching: Its unusual flower coloration and form make it a conversation starter. If you’re looking for an ornamental flowering plant that is a bit out of the ordinary, the ‘Tiger Eye’ is an ideal choice.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your abutilon tiger eye live plant is relatively straightforward, ensuring it thrives and produces its beautiful blooms. This plant appreciates a balance of sunlight, consistent moisture, and well-draining soil. For optimal growth, provide a location that receives full sun to partial shade. In hotter climates, some afternoon shade is beneficial to protect the delicate flowers and foliage from scorching. Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day to encourage abundant blooming.

Watering is crucial for the Abutilon ‘Tiger Eye’. Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out slightly between waterings, especially for plants grown in containers. Good drainage is paramount to prevent root rot, so ensure your pot has adequate drainage holes. A high-quality, well-draining potting mix is recommended for container-grown plants. For in-ground planting, amend heavy clay soils with organic matter to improve drainage. This flowering maple plant care routine will ensure a healthy root system.

The Abutilon ‘Tiger Eye’ prefers moderate temperatures and is generally hardy in USDA Zones 9-11. In cooler climates, it can be grown as an annual or brought indoors during winter. Fertilize regularly during the growing season (spring through early fall) with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks to support its continuous blooming. Pruning can be done in late winter or early spring to maintain shape, encourage bushier growth, and promote more flowers. Watch out for common pests like aphids and whiteflies, and treat them with insecticidal soap if necessary. With proper care, your abutilon plant indoor or outdoor will flourish.

Size & Details

This abutilon tiger eye live plant is shipped as a robust specimen, typically standing between 2 to 3 feet long (tall) from the base of the plant. It arrives securely planted in a 3-gallon nursery pot, providing a well-established root system ready for immediate transplanting or continued growth in its current container. The mature size of the ‘Tiger Eye’ can reach up to 6-8 feet in height and 3-5 feet in width when planted in the ground in ideal conditions, though it can be maintained at a smaller size through regular pruning, especially when grown in containers. Its moderate growth rate means you’ll see significant development within the first growing season. This ornamental flowering plant is designed to bring instant impact to your garden display.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The abutilon tiger eye live plant typically grows 2 to 3 feet tall when shipped, but can reach 6-8 feet in height and 3-5 feet wide at maturity in optimal conditions. Its size can be managed with pruning.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: This plant ships in a 3-gallon nursery pot, ensuring it has a healthy root system and is ready to be placed in your garden or a larger decorative container.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Abutilon ‘Tiger Eye’ thrives outdoors in USDA Zones 9-11. In cooler climates, it can be grown as an annual or brought indoors as a houseplant during the colder months, making it a versatile abutilon plant indoor option.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This flowering maple plant care requires full sun to partial shade. Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily for the best blooming, with some afternoon shade beneficial in hot climates.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Abutilon ‘Tiger Eye’ is considered relatively easy to care for. It needs consistent watering, well-draining soil, and regular feeding during the growing season to flourish.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your tiger eye plant will arrive as a live, healthy plant with good roots, fresh from our garden, carefully packaged to ensure safe transit.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: Abutilon ‘Tiger Eye’ is known for its prolific blooming. With proper care, it will typically start producing its dazzling flowers from spring through fall, and often continuously in warmer regions.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time to plant is in spring after the last frost, allowing the plant to establish itself before the peak growing season. If planting in a container, it can be done at any time.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature it can tolerate? A: This ornamental flowering plant is sensitive to frost. It generally prefers temperatures above 40°F (4°C) and will need protection or to be brought indoors if temperatures drop below this.
• Q: Is the ‘Tiger Eye’ plant pet-safe? A: While Abutilon species are generally not listed as highly toxic, it’s always best to keep plants out of reach of pets to prevent any potential mild irritation or upset stomach if ingested.