Flowers in the shade. The yellow and green splotches of this Abutilon are a unique and interesting form of variegation. The leaves are maple shaped, hence the common name, but the hanging bowls of mallow flowers clearly show its cousin-hood to hollyhocks. The flowers are pale orange, which in some ways is actually a little startling with the yellow and green.
Hummingbirds give their vote of approval also.
In hot summers and intense sunlight like ours, Abutilons all need shade from the fiercest sun. And this is doubly so for the variegated leaves of A. pictum. The yellow, less pigmented portions of the leaves can scorch easily in the hot sun. Luckily, the plant grows and blooms well with little or no direct sun, and can bring some much appreciated reflected light to otherwise monotonous shade plantings. A. pictum will need to be tipped or pruned back occasionally, or it will try to become a little skinny tree.