This broadleaf ever-green to deciduous shrub is a hybrid from A. chinensis and A. uniflora. It is a member of the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, that also includes weigela, pincushion flower and teasel. Plants grow up to 10′ tall in the warm climates, much smaller in the colder part of their range, and have arching branches that are reddish and hairy when young but develop exfoliating bark that reveal light inner bark when mature. The ovate leaves are up to 2″ long, glossy, and dark green before turning purplish-bronze in the fall. The fragrant, tubular, bell-shaped flowers appear in terminal and axillary clusters from summer into fall and attract pollinators includng butterflies and hummingbirds. Each flower is 1/2″ long, white to pale pink, and surrounded by pink to purple sepals that persist into winter. Many cultivars are available that differ most significantly in plant size and flower and leaf color. Glossy abelia can be used for borders, foundation plantings, and hedges, especially where it is evergreen, and is a good choice for a fragrance garden. The genus name, Abelia, honors , honors Dr. Clarke Abel (17801826), English naturalist and physician who was part of a British delegation to the emperor of China in 1816. The specific epithet, grandiflora, is from the Latin words grandis meaning large, and flos, meaning flower.
Type: Flowering broadleaf evergreen to deciduous shrub
Outstanding Feature: Fragrant flowers, foliage
Form: Rounded
Growth Rate: Moderate
Bloom: Clusters of fragrant, white to pale pink bell-shaped flowers from summer into fall
Size: 2-10′ H-x 3-13′ W
Light: Full sun for best flowering and leaf color
Soil: Fertile to average, consistently moist, well-drained
Hardiness: Zones 6-9
Care: Prune lightly immediately after flowering to encourage next year’s bloom and maintain plant shape
Pests and Diseases: Generally healthy but aphids, anthracnose and powdery mildew may be a problem.
Propagation: Softwood cuttings in early summer, semi-ripe cuttings in fall
Outstanding Selections:
‘Edward Goucher’ (lavender-pink flowers, 3-5′ tall, compact)
‘Francis Mason’ (pinkish-white flowers, glossy yellowish leaves)
‘Hopleys’ (pale pink flowers)
‘Kaleidoscope’ (white flowers, multicolored leaves)
‘Prostrata’ (white flowers, low growing)
‘Sherwoodi’ (white flowers, small leaves, dwarf, dense and compact)
‘Sunrise’ (pinkish-white flowers, yellow to cream variegated leaves)
Photo Credit: Wikipedia