Orange Tiger Abutilon Live Plant – Red & Orange Flowering Maple – 5-8 Inch Tall

Overview

The Orange Tiger Abutilon live plant is a show-stopping addition to any garden or patio, known for its distinctive and abundant blooms. Also commonly referred to as flowering maple plant due to its maple-like foliage, this semi-tropical, broadleaf evergreen shrub is a true delight. Its pendulous, cup-shaped flowers boast a captivating golden orange hue with a striking bright red overlay, creating a ‘tiger’s eye’ effect that is truly unique. This particular variety, Abutilon x hybridum ‘Tiger’s Eye’, blooms prolifically from spring through fall, ensuring a long season of vibrant color and activity in your outdoor space. It’s an excellent choice for gardeners looking to add an exotic touch and attract pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies.

Key Benefits

The Orange Tiger Abutilon live plant offers numerous advantages for both seasoned gardeners and beginners. Its unique characteristics and ease of care make it a highly desirable specimen.

• Stunning Ornamental Value: The striking red and orange lantern-like flowers provide continuous visual interest and a tropical flair to any garden or container planting.
• Attracts Pollinators: The nectar-rich blooms are a magnet for hummingbirds and butterflies, bringing lively activity and biodiversity to your outdoor environment.
• Long Blooming Season: Enjoy a prolonged display of color from spring through fall, far longer than many other flowering shrubs, making it a reliable performer.
• Versatile Planting Options: Ideal for garden beds, borders, or as a vibrant potted specimen on patios and decks, especially where it can be moved indoors in colder climates.
• Relatively Low Maintenance: Once established, this flowering maple plant requires moderate care, making it suitable for gardeners seeking beautiful plants without excessive demands.
• Unique ‘Tiger’s Eye’ Blooms: The distinctive color pattern of golden orange with a red overlay sets this Abutilon apart, making it a focal point in any collection.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Orange Tiger Abutilon live plant is straightforward, ensuring you can enjoy its beautiful blooms for many seasons. This semi-tropical shrub thrives in specific conditions that mimic its natural habitat. For optimal growth and flowering, understanding its needs is crucial. The Abutilon Tiger’s Eye prefers a location with filtered sun or partial shade, especially in hotter climates. While it can tolerate some shade, too much will reduce flowering. In cooler zones, it may tolerate more direct morning sun. Ensure it receives adequate light without being scorched by intense afternoon rays.

Watering is key to successful tropical abutilon care. This plant prefers consistently moist soil but dislikes being waterlogged. Water regularly, especially during dry spells and its active growing season, allowing the top inch or two of soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Reduce watering frequency in cooler months. Well-draining soil is essential to prevent root rot. A good quality potting mix with added perlite or sand works well for container plants, while garden soil should be amended to improve drainage if heavy. The USDA hardiness zones for this plant are 9-11, and it can be grown as an annual or overwintered indoors in colder regions. Fertilize monthly during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer to encourage abundant blooms. Prune lightly to maintain shape and encourage bushier growth, removing any dead or leggy stems.

Size & Details

The Orange Tiger Abutilon live plant is a vigorous grower, typically reaching a mature height and width of 6 to 10 feet when planted in the ground in ideal conditions. As a starter plant, you will receive a well-rooted specimen approximately 5-8 inches tall, ready for planting. This plant is shipped without a pot to ensure safe and efficient transit, keeping shipping costs down. Its moderate growth rate means it will establish itself well in your garden or container. The continuous blooming period from spring through fall ensures your garden remains vibrant for an extended duration. This abutilon x hybridum variety is known for its robust nature and captivating floral display.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The Orange Tiger Abutilon live plant typically grows 6 to 10 feet tall and wide at maturity, providing a substantial and beautiful presence in your garden or a large container.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This plant is primarily an outdoor shrub suitable for USDA Zones 9-11. In colder climates, it can be grown in a container and brought indoors during winter, making it a versatile flowering maple plant.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: It thrives in filtered sun to partial shade. In very hot climates, afternoon shade is beneficial to prevent leaf scorch, while in cooler areas, it can tolerate more morning sun.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, with proper attention to its light and watering needs, the Abutilon Tiger’s Eye is relatively easy to care for, making it suitable for gardeners of various experience levels.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: You will receive a healthy, well-rooted starter plant, approximately 5-8 inches tall, shipped without a pot to ensure safe transit and readiness for immediate planting.
• Q: How often should I water my Abutilon? A: Water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out slightly between waterings, adjusting frequency based on weather and soil conditions. This is key to good tropical abutilon care.
• Q: When is the best time to plant this Abutilon? A: The best time to plant is typically in spring after the last frost, allowing the plant ample time to establish before the peak growing season.
• Q: Will it attract hummingbirds and butterflies? A: Absolutely! The vibrant, nectar-rich flowers of the Orange Tiger Abutilon live plant are highly attractive to both hummingbirds and butterflies, enhancing your garden’s biodiversity.
• Q: What kind of soil does it prefer? A: It prefers well-draining soil. For container planting, a good quality potting mix with added perlite or sand is ideal. For garden beds, amend heavy soils to improve drainage.
• Q: Can I prune this plant? A: Yes, light pruning can be done to maintain shape, encourage bushier growth, and remove any dead or leggy stems. This helps keep your abutilon x hybridum looking its best.