Shrub
Glossy abelia
Abelia × grandiflora
An arching shrub with glossy leaves and pale, tubular flowers from summer into autumn. It flowers best in a sheltered sunny position. Winter leaf retention and shoot survival depend on the climate.
- Size
- 1.5–3 m high · 1.5–3 m wideVaries by cultivar
- Light
- Full sun / Partial shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Winter
- Needs protection
- Seasonal form
- Semi-evergreen
- Maintenance
- Moderate
Before planting
- Choose a warm, sheltered position and well-drained soil that retains some moisture. Sun gives the best flowering; light partial shade is tolerated.
- Vigorous, unpruned forms can reach roughly 1.5–3 m high and wide. Compact cultivars stay smaller, so choose the plant for the available space.
- Hard frosts may kill shoots or the plant. In colder regions, use a protected microclimate or a container that can be moved to suitable winter shelter.
Why choose it
- White to pale pink tubular flowers give a long summer and autumn display and can attract visiting pollinators.
- Arching branches and glossy leaves suit mixed borders and informal hedges. Coloured calyces can remain after the flowers fade.
Care
- Water through establishment and during prolonged drought. Older plants tolerate short dry spells better than newly planted shrubs.
- Prune in spring as growth resumes: remove dead wood and thin old stems if needed. Flowers form on the current season’s shoots.
- Mulch the root area in cold regions and protect container roots from freezing. Shelter reduces exposure but cannot guarantee survival in severe winters.
Good to know
- Foliage is retained best in mild climates. Colder winters can cause partial or complete leaf loss, so it is not a reliable evergreen screen everywhere.
- You may also find this shrub under its botanical synonym Linnaea × grandiflora.