Flowering Maples (Abutilon) come in so many gorgeous varieties, mostly showing off different, vibrant bloom colors. If you’ve fallen in love with yours, you’ll be happy to know they are super easy to propagate yourself! There are two main ways to get more of these beauties in your garden.
Ways to Propagate Your Flowering Maple
You can expand your collection using two simple methods:
- Growing from cuttings
- Growing from seeds
Propagating Flowering Maples from Cuttings
Taking cuttings is the most popular way to grow new Flowering Maples. It’s actually perfect to do right when you’re giving your plant a good pruning. The best time to grab your cuttings is either right after the first spring growth or a bit later in the summer.
- Look for healthy, semi-mature stems (not too green, but not totally woody). Aim for pieces about 4 to 6 inches long.
- Strip off the lower leaves, leaving just the top pair of leaves intact.
- Pop the cuttings into a pot filled with seed-starting mix. If you don’t have any on hand, a mix of standard potting soil with a little sand or peat moss works great to keep things airy.
- Place your pots in a warm, bright spot (but out of direct, scorching sun).
- Keep the soil consistently moist. To create a little “mini-greenhouse” effect, drape some clear plastic over the pot. Just make sure to lift it daily for some fresh air so you don’t run into mold issues.
In a few weeks, your cuttings should start developing their own root systems and new growth. Once they look sturdy enough, you can move your new baby Flowering Maples into their own pots or right into the garden.
Propagating Flowering Maples from Seed
If you’re feeling patient, you can also grow these from seed. You can buy seeds at the garden center or harvest them from your own plants. Just a heads-up: seeds won’t always grow up to be “clones” of the parent plant. You might actually end up with a cool new hybrid or a different color!
- Sow your seeds in a tray or pot using a light seed-starting mix.
- Press them gently into the soil, but don’t bury them deep. These guys are “light germinators,” meaning they need light to wake up. A thick layer of dirt will slow them down or stop them from sprouting altogether.
- Keep the soil damp and cover the tray with clear plastic, remembering to vent it daily.
- Find a warm, sunny windowsill. These seeds germinate best when they stay around 65°F (18°C).
