Abutilon Bartley Schwarz North Africa The first sign of spring

The first sign of spring is the wonderful spikes of dodecatheon-like blue flowers to 6" tall

dark green leaves are slightly twisted

topped in early spring with stalks of cranberry-red flowers held just above the bronze-emerging new foliage

to 1' tall x 2' wide in 5 years

I fell to my knees when I first saw Arisaema 'Black Jack' at Woodlanders Nursery in South Carolina and visitors to our garden have continued this tradition

Abutilon Bartley Schwarz North Africa The first sign of springIn our winter hardiness trials, Abutilon 'Bartley Schwarz' (named after the late California plantsman, although incorrectly spelled "Schwartz") has been one of our best performers. The slightly pendent branching habit of this Abutilon megapotamicum hybrid makes a 4' tall x 4' wide clump clothed with small, fuzzy green serrated leaves and adorned from early summer through fall with 1. 5" wide, salmon orange (RHS 24B), bell shaped flowers that dangle