Photo by M. Martin Vicente 
Red Tiger Flowering Maple
Abutilon x 'Red Tiger'
I’ve wanted one of these since the first time I saw a giant specimen at a local nursery 3 years ago. The gorgeous chinese-lantern like flowers are like something out of a tropical rainforest. I picked up a 5 gallon size one at 2020 PNW Flower & Garden Festival even though I would have loved to grab the gigantic one the vendor had on display. They are truly stunning! Abutilon can supposedly be an outdoor plant so I promptly sat it out on the deck when we got home. Then I promptly relocated it to the sunroom after it started looking really sad. Now it’s growing beautifully and will probably need transplanting into a larger pot some time this year.
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Nursery Tag
Hardiness Zone: 8, 9, 10 Bloom Season: Everbloomer Sun Requirement: Full Sun Hardy to 10-20 degrees F Grows to 2-4' Minimum Temperature Indoors: 35 Needs well-drained soil. Most Abutilon that die in the PNW do so not from cold but from being too wet too long. Prune down to 12 inches after first frost. Water every day above 70 degrees, fertilize every week.
Gardener's Log
02/2020: Placed on deck in original plastic pot
05/2020: Moved to Sunroom
Comments on Red Tiger Flowering Maple
I have a red tiger in a pot. Is it more vulnerable than other abutilon? I have had anther 2 for several years flourishing near house wall ina shelterrdposition. I don’t know whether Ishould plant in garden or leave in pot and bring indoors?
Hi Marjory, Red Tiger is supposedly hardy to Zone 8 but even though we are zone 8 I wouldn’t plant it outdoors – I’ve lost a few plants to freeze that way. If you live in a warmer region like Florida or California, I think you could plant it outdoors! Otherwise I’d keep in it a pot. Thanks for your comment!