I can't identify your yellow blooms Mya, but they're very pretty. And the two pink ones are just glorious! Makes battling with all the pests worthwhile when you can grow such beauties, eh?
You can indeed grow abutilons in pots. That's how I started growing them (see old photo). They come in all sizes, from dwarfs only about 20cm tall to 2m upright shrubs to twiggy plants that can climb their way thru a tree canopy if given the root space--or hang over the side of a hanging basket if not. They seem to do well in a range of climates and I think they would probably grow well for you there, perhaps only taking a break from blooming in summer (during the wettest, most humid time of year there).
To get a true dwarf, you should buy them as plants--Bunnings often has them. These seem to be the shortest lived, however. In fact, I think my original three dwarf abutilons have all died. They probably needed just a little TLC.
However, most abutilons are surprisingly tough once established, although you'll have to water them if they're in pots. The dwarfs tend to produce dwarf seedlings--they're hybrids, so won't be identical to the parents--but it does depend on what they are crossed with. If the pod parent is a large vigorous shrub, they're unlikely to produce 20 cm dwarfs! Yet even these can be grown in pots for a period of time and it's said that being rootbound makes them flower better.
I like growing them from seeds--longest time to flower about 15 months (because I tortured the seedlings in foam cups in shade with little water) to 2 months (planted directly in soil during a wet, warm--not typically hot--February). As your area is frost free, you could sow them now and easily expect to see flowers by Christmas, if not earlier. Dmail me your postal address if you'd like some seeds and I'll send you a selection.
I've had some terrific seedlings, including ones like the second photo that were almost fluorescent in colour. (Sadly, this is one of those that died during the Big Dry last summer.)
