Glossy Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora)
Abelia x grandiflora
Debbie Roos
Glossy Abelia is a medium-sized, round, dense, multi-stemmed, hybrid shrub in the honeysuckle family. This cross between Abelia chinensis and Abelia uniflora is believed to have originated in Italy and was officially introduced in 1886. Since the hybridization, more than 30 cultivars have been developed.
The showy funnel- or bell-shaped flowers are white to pink and appear in clusters from late spring through fall. Glossy Abelia stands out from other plants because the leaves retain their reddish foliage color all summer long, whereas many plants with reddish leaves lose this coloration later in the summer. Considered to be evergreen in its southern range, Glossy Abelia will lose 50% of its leaves in colder climates, with the remaining leaves taking on a more pronounced red color.
Glossy abelia can be grown in full sun or partial shade, but it will flower best in full sun. It prefers moist, well-drained soils of loam, clay, or sand, but it is intolerant to salty soil. Once established, Glossy Abelia requires very little maintenance.
It grows to 2 ½- to 8-ft. tall and 3- to 6-ft. wide. It is hardy, drought-tolerant, erosion-tolerant, deer resistant, and easy to grow. It is semi-evergreen to evergreen in zones 9 to 11, but it is usually deciduous in colder planting zones (zone 8). The shrub is frost tender and is best planted in a protected site to prevent freeze damage. Because flowers bloom on new wood, prune (if needed) in late winter and early spring. It will require occasional thinning to keep it in bounds as a hedge. Thinning will help light reach the interior foliage, stimulating branching and creating a fuller plant.
Abelia x grandiflora
Jim Robbins
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Glossy Abelia is versatile, easy to grow, tough, and has a very long blooming season. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are attracted to its flowers. Consider using this hybrid shrub as an accent, border, hedge, privacy screen, or mass planting. Planted in mass, this shrub will add color and a slight fragrance to the landscape. Plant on 4- to 6-ft. centers to form a screen or foundation planting, slightly closer for a hedge.
Abelia ‘Edward Goucher’, a hybrid between Abelia x grandiflora and Abelia schumannii, has abundant lavender-pink flowers and showy red calyces. It reaches 5 to 8 feet and is best used in hardiness zone 6 and south. It is superior to most other abelias due to the highly fragrant pink flowers.
The Glossy Abelia has no serious insect pests or diseases. It is resistant to Phytophthora root rot. It is particularly resistant to drought, pollution, and deer.
By Kathryn Copley, Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteer, Brunswick County, NC
For more information on gardening in Brunswick County, please call the Brunswick County Cooperative Extension Office, 910.253.2610.
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SOURCES:
Abelia x grandiflora | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox