Abutilon pictum is a tropical evergreen shrub native to South America, commonly known as painted abutilon, redvein abutilon, Chinese lantern, or flowering maple. Seeds are small and hard but germinate readily with proper pre-treatment.
Before sowing
Scarification
mecanica Scarify seeds by gently scratching or nicking the seed coat to help water penetrate
Soak
12 h Soak seeds overnight or for a few hours before sowing; one source recommends 140°F water for fastest germination
Pre-treatment with soaking significantly improves germination rate and uniformity
Sowing
Substrate
Light, well-draining seed-starting mix; peat, perlite, vermiculite, or sandy soil
Depth
levemente_coberta
Temperature
70°C
Moisture
media
Container
Pots with cover (glass or plastic sheet) for germination
What to expect
Step 1
Pre-treat the seed
Step 2
Sow at levemente_coberta · 70°C
Day 5–21
Seedlings emerge
Tips
Seeds germinate fastest at 65-70°F with proper soaking. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide bright light once germination begins. Most seeds sprout within 9 days but can take up to 3 weeks.
Sources: harvesttotable.com, davesgarden.com, plantflowerseeds.com, botanikks.com, practicalplants.org, PFAF Plant Database, greg.app
