How to Prune an Abutilon Pictum

Prune your Abutilon pictum in the spring each year to remove dead foliage and flowers that did not survive the winter, along with any diseased-looking tissues or stems that are lying on the ground, bent or broken. Take any of these that you find down to a point of healthy tissue just above a leaf node or down to the crown of the plant. This will improve plant health and make way for new growth.

Control the size and spread of your abutilon or prevent legginess and a bare center during the growing season, if necessary, by pruning back the terminal tips of the longest stems. Follow the natural form of the shrub and place all cuts just above a healthy leaf node. Don't be overzealous; remove just enough tissue to perfect the bush form, as this type of pruning can diminish bloom performance.

Pinch back a few new shoots periodically during the growing season to help keep the plant compact and increase size of remaining blooms slightly. Pinch the tender terminal shoots between your thumb and index finger to gently sever the tips. Again, do not be overzealous since too much pinching will reduce bloom. Target shoots for pinching that are outsize relative to others, extending beyond the general established outline of the bush and look errant.