Abelia spp.
abelias
Eastern Asia (China, Himalayas, Japan) and Mexico
Overview
Abelia spp. is a genus of flowering shrubs in the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae), native to eastern Asia and Mexico, with about 30 species in the traditional sense. Most are arching, multi-stemmed shrubs 1-3.5 m (3-12 ft) tall and wide, with small, glossy, opposite leaves that are evergreen, semi-evergreen, or deciduous depending on species and climate. From summer into autumn the plants carry clusters of small, tubular to bell-shaped flowers in white, pink, or pale lilac, many of them lightly scented. After the petals fall, the persistent rosy-pink or bronze sepals remain for weeks and extend the colour display. New stems are often tinged red. A. x grandiflora, the glossy abelia, is a commonly grown member and forms a dense, arching shrub with pink-flushed white flowers. Abelia spp. grows in sun to part shade in most well-drained soils and tolerates heat, urban conditions, and light drought once established. The main limitation is cold: many species are damaged below about -15 C (5 F) and may die back to the ground in hard winters, regrowing from the base.
Native Range
Native to eastern Asia, chiefly China, the Himalayas, and Japan, with a few species in Mexico. The cultivated hybrids and species derive mainly from Chinese parentage.Suggested Uses
Grown as informal flowering hedges, foundation and shrub-border plants, and massed groundcover on banks, with dwarf and variegated forms used in containers and small gardens. The long bloom and persistent sepals make it useful for pollinator and mixed borders.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 12'
Width/Spread3' - 10'
Bloom Information
Flowering runs over a long period from early summer into autumn, roughly June to October, on the current season's growth. The small flowers open in flushes, and the rosy sepals persist for weeks after each flush. In mild climates scattered flowers can appear nearly year-round.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white, pink, or pale lilac with rosy persistent sepalsFoliage Description
glossy green with bronze new growthGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Abelia spp. grows in full sun to part shade in fertile, moist, free-draining, slightly acidic soil, flowering most heavily in sun. The genus tolerates heat, humidity, urban pollution, and light drought once established, but flowering and evergreen foliage suffer in cold, exposed sites. In hard winters top growth may be killed, though plants usually resprout from the base. Feeding in spring with a balanced fertiliser supports the long bloom. Propagation is easy from softwood or semi-ripe cuttings taken in summer. Plants respond well to hard renewal pruning when they become bare at the base.Pruning
Because flowers form on new growth, pruning is done in late winter or early spring before growth resumes. Old, congested, or arching stems can be cut back hard, or up to a third of the oldest stems removed at the base each year to renew the shrub. Light trimming after a flush tidies the outline.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons