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Abutilon 'Souvenir de Bonn' has been lanky and tall, 8'-10' if not regularly chopped. It is placed in the space between 'Oshio Bene' Japanese Maple and the northeast corner of the house.
Planting the Japanese Maple not so close to the house was the right choice for the health of the Maple
Perhaps 'Bonn' would be less lanky in more sun, with more flowers. Or, perhaps not.
There's one!
'Bonn's yellow-edged foliage brightens the area in the shady afternoon. That is its main virtue. Just lately it has developed a second: A Fuchsia has started using it as a trellis, adding flower color where there was none. Okay, I helped the Fuchsia a little, when I saw what it was about, but the Fuchsia started it.
The Fuchsia gets support and somewhat more sunlight, and the Abutilon is showier, yet undamaged.
I wish I had been clever enough to think of this myself.
The area around the Maple has been worked and changed every year since the Maple was planted around 2001. No plan, no thought. Eventually it improved by trial and mostly error.
Dichondra argentea, Hellebores, Bromeliad-arrayed stump, Itoh Peony in the sunniest spot, 'Endless Summer' Hydrangea, purple foliaged Alternathera
An Oncidium flexuosum (note the yellow flowers) hung on the Maple's trunk, and a Tillandsia mereliana hung in the branches.
Win-win! Good on you for picking up on the Fuchsia's bright idea. It's remarkable how much the blooms bring out the variegation on the Abutilon foliage.
ReplyDeleteWin-win is good. Be better if we all tried to do that.
DeleteNature is a great designed but then so are you!
ReplyDeleteWish it was on purpose instead of by accident, but I'll take the happy accidents any day.
DeleteYou've found a great place for 'Souvenir de Bonn'. I finally gave up on mine because of its gangly habit. I have a 'Savitzii' now and it has a nice compact habit.
ReplyDeleteAh, gangly for you also. Not my soil, then. I will have a look at 'Savitzii'. I got a 'Victor Reiter' from Annies. It's still small, but shows promise.
DeleteIt is a good thing that you listen to your plants. They have been telling you what they want and need. An abutilon that gets so tall!! Wow. They never get the chance to do that here our growing season isn't long enough. I like those variegated leaves. It always amazes me that fuchsias get so big out your way too. FUN.
ReplyDeleteAbutilon and Fuchsias do get big here. Inland not so good--too dry. Hopefully I listen to my plants more and more--they have better ideas than I do!
DeleteTrial and error eventually results in the perfect composition. The abutilon's variegated makes the composition pop keeping the maple from fading into the background. Mother Nature usually inspires great design ideas.
ReplyDeleteMother Nature knows! We ignore her at our peril.
DeleteThe Fuchsia/Abutilon combination is great; I love these serendipitous combinations that nature sometimes introduces us to. I also like the foliage and color combinations around the Japanese maple that you created!
ReplyDeleteThanks Deb. I'm surprised it looks okay considering the haphazard accidental bumbling process that created it!
DeleteWhat a great corner...nice match like good friends your fuchsia and abutilon.
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's a very prominent view from inside the house. Something nice to look at when indoors.
DeleteSince I plant things too close together I have quite a bit of this sort of thing going on--not always to good effect though !
ReplyDeleteI read most plants like companions, but it is always a balancing act between lush and chaos.
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