Everything You Need to Know:
Abutilon ‘Waltz’; an exceptional yellow-flowered patio shrub.
Family Malvaceae
Originating from Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
- Bright canary-yellow, bell-shaped flowers hang gracefully from slender stems throughout summer and well into autumn.
- Lush, deeply lobed green foliage creates a dense, tactile backdrop that sets off the pendulous blooms.
- Rewarding and vigorous in sheltered, sun-drenched positions, performing reliably in large patio containers or warm borders.
Abutilon ‘Waltz’ In Your Garden
A profusion of luminous, bell-shaped blossoms brings tropical-looking flamboyance to sunny outdoor living spaces. Arching stems produce nodding golden lanterns with prominent, brush-like central stamens from early summer until the first frosts. Its months-long display of warm colour and lush, bright green foliage makes a perfect, showy, potted specimen.
Abutilon ‘Waltz’ is hardy in southern and coastal UK gardens, though sharp winter frosts may damage unprotected foliage. Growing steadily to 1.5m tall and wide, its bushy compact form suits courtyards, sunny gravel borders, and exotic gardens. It thrives in sheltered heat traps against south-facing walls or fences, which provide vital warmth.
If planted out in mixed borders, its soft, lobed foliage provides a dense foil for surrounding perennials or bold architectural plants. The hanging blossoms act as natural feeding stations for passing bumblebees. This rare variety is evergreen and may even flower year-round if overwintered in a conservatory.
Did you know?
This showy shrub belongs to the mallow family, Malvaceae, making it a close relative of hibiscus and hollyhocks. Bred in 2000 by Steve Yandall in Cornwall, it is part of the ‘Dancing Series’. It is a relatively new variety with distinctive flared, rather than inwardly curved, petticoat-like petals.
Growing Tips for Your Yellow-Flowered Patio Shrub, Abutilon ‘Waltz’
- Soil and Sun: full sun is a must—plant in well-drained, non-alkaline soil, avoiding poor, dry ground.
- Planting: plant out in spring after the frosts; pot at any time of year in general purpose compost. Never plant a dry plant! Plunge the pot for 10 minutes to drench the root ball before planting.
- Watering: moderate; plants growing in the ground will tolerate dry spells once established. Water regularly in its first summer while rooting out. Water potted plants thoroughly and allow to dry out between watering. Feed monthly with a liquid general-purpose fertiliser.
- Overwintering: In all but mild southern and coastal areas, grow in pots for summer patio display, or plant out, lifting before the first hard frost, then move to a frost-free environment for winter.
- Height and spread: after 5 – 10 years: 1.5m x 1.5m.
First bred for Victorian glasshouses, this graceful shrub is ideal for brightening modern outdoor living spaces. Commonly known as the Tree Mallow, it symbolises meditation and peace in many cultures, and is used in Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Add the rich cultural character and serene nature of this yellow-flowered patio shrub to your garden today.
