Propagation
Normally there is no pre-treatment and fresh seeds should be sown when ripe or during spring. Maintain a temperature of 16ş to 18ş C. (61ş to 64ş F). Seeds germinate readily and should be pot up prior to planting out.

Grafted plants are more reliable and flower within 3 to 4 years.


Botanic information
Leaf: The juvenile leaves have 5-7 acuminate lobes and the glabrous palmately lobed adult leaves normally have 5- shallow lobes with a cordate base and a petiole up to 180 mm (7 in) long.

The upper surface is a dull green and the underside is a densely covered in whitish stellate tomentose. The tree becomes semi-deciduous during early summer before the flowers appear.

Flower: The large pink campanulate male and female flowers are sessile or have a short pedestal and the lobes are covered in soft pubescence. They appear in clusters terminally on branchlets and from early to mid summer, normally on a leafless tree.

Fruit: The boat shaped follicle is up to 50 mm (2 in) wide and is covered in stiff brownish hairs. It appears in a cluster with a short stalk up to 20 mm (ľ in) long and contains 30-50 seeds that up to 9 mm (? in)long. Care should be taken when handling as the hairs may irritate skin, use gloves.