Someone please tell me that Abutilon Megapotamicum does not sound like a “Dr. Who” monster (invasion of the Abutilons)? It is in fact the name of a plant and was a bad-weather purchase made last weekend. We’ve taken a gamble as Abutilons are border-line hardy in the UK. They may only survive in the most sheltered and warmest positions in the north and may fare a little better in the south. If the winter is hard then it could well finish off a young and unprotected plant.

Abutilon Megapotamicum are the hardier plants in the species and though only seen rarely, they do turn up now and again in gardening TV and magazines. The young plant we bought is a very pretty variegated form and has striking heart-shaped leaves.

The form of the plant is an arching shrub with long stems and what we have at the moment is very spindly and weedy. I’m going to have to get some sort of obelisk, wigwam or bamboo tripod to secure the long, leggy stems as the plant grows otherwise the wind will simply snap them off and blow them away

To increase its chances of survival, I’m going to keep it in its pot and protected for the winter and plant it out next spring. I’ll have the spot where it’s due to go ready by then too.