Home flower with leaves like maple - striped abutilone

The leaves of this shrub are very similar to maple. However, the plant belongs to the Malvov family and is not even a distant relative of the maple. In Russia, abutilone appeared relatively recently as an indoor flower. In the wild, it grows only in the tropics: Africa, South Asia, Latin America. People often call it indoor or flowering maple, but from a botanical point of view, this is a mistake.

Flowering maple

Domestic summer residents are happy to plant abutilon on plots in the summer, and in the fall they bring it into a city apartment. You can recognize him by the following characteristic signs:

• hairy leaves, elongated or heart-shaped;
• the height of an adult plant is 1.7-2 m;
• a large number of shoots;
• flowers shaped like a bell.

Abutilone grows wild in the southern regions

The plant blooms from April to October. Bells can have different colors: yellow, orange, bright red.

The variety of names for this flower

This unusual flower with maple leaves is known by various names. The official name of the plant with leaves like maple is abutilone. There are also other folk ones. Most often, this flower is called maple, adding various adjectives:

• indoor;
• home;
• decorative;
• flowering.

The cable car can have a different color depending on the type and variety

A less common name is cable car, derived from its sturdy stem.

Abutilon received the popular nickname for the cable car for the strong fibers that make up the stem.

Main types

There are many plants with maple leaves that are artificially bred abutilon species. A total of 110 hybrids and varieties are known. The most beautiful are:

• Organza;
• Bella;
• Eye of the Tiger;
• Bella mix.

Most varieties bloom from the third decade of April to the first decade of September. Recently, the Belle Vue hybrid variety has been very popular with domestic florists. The height of an adult plant reaches two meters, and bright bells delight the eye with various colors. The only drawback is that the plant needs frequent pruning for proper crown formation.

Exotic lovers also managed to appreciate the originality of the Tiger Eye variety. The orange flowers, shaped like a flashlight, are decorated with thin red stripes, which looks very beautiful. Each flashlight has its own unique pattern of graceful veins.

Botanical and indoor types of abutilone

In natural conditions, the most common type of cable car is considered to be the Chitandeni variety, which grows in South America. The main features of the species:

• powerful branches, a large number of shoots;
• the height of an adult plant can reach three meters;
• round, large dark green leaves with a soft nap on the back;
• round orange flowers with thin bright red stripes.

Outwardly, this species resembles a Tiger's Eye, but the flowers are wider, and their diameter is slightly larger.

The most common indoor types are:

• terry;
• spotted;
• hybrid;
• Savitsky.

The most convenient ways to propagate the rope-way are by seeds and cuttings. The first method is more time consuming. However, there are several varieties with mottled leaves that can be propagated exclusively by cuttings.

Indoor maple

This vibrant flower with maple-like leaves instantly lifts the mood, which is why it can often be found in offices and lounges.

Description of abutilone: ​​wild and home

The wild-flowering maple is not found in Russia. But indoor flowers with leaves similar to maple are very popular. They are often chosen as gifts in ornamental plant stores. The main difference between a wild rope and a domestic one is in its high height (up to 3 m) and longer flowering. The rest of the wild species visually practically do not differ from domesticated ones.

Kanatnik fell in love with domestic flower growers for the following characteristic features:

• large, wide open flowers up to 6 cm in diameter with graceful veins;
• soft, fluffy to the touch leaves, very similar to maple;
• thick, shaggy crown;
• shoots like arrows;
• long and friendly flowering.

Among the indoor species, there are both dwarfs and real giants. The most beautiful dwarf variety, abutilon Bella, is compact, only 30 cm high. Graceful flowers in the shape of an inverted glass with velvet edges. The petals, pleasant to the touch, can have different colors: from pink, yellow, orange to deep burgundy or bloody red.

Caring for unpretentious abutilon

Most often, domestic flower growers choose striped abutilone as a houseplant. It grows quickly, and the flowers do not fall off for a long time. It is the most widespread type of maple-like indoor plant in Russia.

Abundant watering must be combined with regular loosening of the soil

The list of basic care activities includes:

• abundant watering;
• regular loosening;
• pruning;
• removal of dried flowers during the flowering period;
• spraying leaves with water;
• fertilizing with fertilizers for indoor plants.

Experts recommend protecting the flower from direct sunlight. The cable car grows well in the shade, but on the south window. In May - August, when abutilone blooms, it is better to take the plant to the balcony or outdoor terrace. Also, indoor maple will feel good in a summer cottage among the grass, in the shade of fruit trees.

To make the indoor maple look beautiful, you should regularly pay attention to the formation of the crown. You need to prune twice a year, in April and October. To make the bush compact, you need to remove all the branches, leaving a single stem. If you want to have a sprawling tree, pinch the young shoots from above. During pruning, remove all dried, deformed flowers and leaves, as well as shoots affected by pests or diseases.

The cable car often suffers from whitefly and spider mite infestations. To get rid of pests, you can use soapy water or commercial insecticides.

Sometimes in indoor maple leaves unexpectedly begin to turn yellow and curl up into a tube, and the shoots dry out at the ends.In this case, it is recommended to increase watering and daily spray the leaves with water from a spray bottle for additional moisture. If the soil in the pot is dry, it is necessary to place the flower pot in a basin filled with warm water for half an hour. This measure will help to urgently revive the cable car.

It is recommended to transplant into a more spacious container in the spring. The optimal frequency of transplanting mature plants is once every three years. Pour boiling water over the new pot to kill all bacteria and viruses. A drainage layer is placed at the bottom, then it is covered with soil for indoor flowers. Abutilon is carefully removed from the old vessel, transferred to a new one, covered with earth and watered abundantly. Before that, you need to carefully look at the roots of the plant. If they have not grown much, it is recommended to postpone the transplant until the fall, waiting for the end of flowering.

Before sowing, the seeds of indoor maple are recommended to be placed in a vessel with water. Floating seeds will not sprout, so they can be thrown away. The largest seed is selected for planting. In order for germination to be high, the air temperature must reach 22-27 ° C. If the soil dries up, you can sprinkle it with warm water.

In order for abutilon to please for a long time with its flowering, it must be grown in a warm room on a light, spacious windowsill. It can be planted at home, in the office, or in a winter greenhouse. The main thing is to water the southern "guest" more often, and he will certainly thank him for his care with large bright flowers. If the summer is hot, the potted maple will grow well on the balcony or in the summer cottage.