Abelia shrubs, Abelia grandiflora, have attractive foliage, which partially accounts for their longtime use in the landscape. The evergreen abelia has red foliage throughout the summer, becoming even deeper and more brilliant in autumn through winter. Flowers offer several bursts of bloom from spring to fall, with clusters of fragrant and frilly pink and white tubular flowers. In colder areas of the country, the glossy abelia plant is considered semi-evergreen, as it may lose half its leaves in cold winters.
How to Grow Abelia
When planting abelia in your yard, choose a prominent spot, as abelia shrubs are no longer just to hide the foundation of your home. Also, choose a spot that gets full to partial sun. The glossy abelia plant grows in a variety of soil types, but responds best to a fertile soil amended with organic material.
Abelia Care and Pruning
Little is needed with regards to the care of these shrubs, though regular watering improves performance. When growing the standard Abelia grandiflora, leave room for the plant to spread to 6 feet (2 m.) and reach 6 to 10 feet (2-3 m.) in height. The habit of the glossy abelia plant is to spread. Newer cultivars are more compact and require less pruning, therefore, abelia care is less time consuming.
‘Lavender Mist’ spreads only slightly, with gray green foliage that becomes a purplish red in fall and a deep purple in winter. Blooms on these compact abelia shrubs are lavender and white, with two heavy bloom periods in June and August. Prune this abelia in early spring once established. ‘Plum Surprise’ is another of the newer offerings, with less flowering and more finely textured foliage. Arching stems sport yellow-green leaves which become emerald in summer, turning burgundy as temperatures cool. Reddish stems often bear single flowers that appear white on first glance, but when examined closely, have a purple blush and yellow throat. This glossy abelia plant is tolerant of drought and summer heat once established in the landscape. Abelia care for this cultivar includes early spring pruning.
Now that you’ve learned how to grow abelia and the diversity of its cultivars, add one or more in your yard. Planting abelia will be an asset to your landscape.
