Small flowers, from pinkish white to pure white, open in wave after wave through the middle of summer above glossy, evergreen or semi-evergreen leaves. Glossy abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) is grown above all for low hedges and for pots on a terrace. Give it sun and light, well-drained soil, and it flowers from early summer to early autumn.
| Name | Abelia x grandiflora |
|---|---|
| Family | Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle family) |
| Category | Shrubs |
| Height | 5 to 6½ feet (1.5 to 2 m) |
| Exposure | full sun and part sun |
| Soil | ordinary |
| Foliage | semi-evergreen or evergreen, depending on the area |
| Flowering | early summer to early autumn |
Its small size makes it ideal for small gardens and for growing in pots for a terrace or deck.
Glossy abelia is planted indifferently in fall or in spring. However, planting in fall will make regrowth easier.
Choose a spot preferably sheltered and in full sun because glossy abelia prefers sun to bloom.
Making cuttings is the easiest and fastest method to propagate glossy abelia.
To prune a glossy abelia well, consider that annual pruning at the end of winter or the beginning of spring encourages growth and blooming of the shrub.
Prune before spring growth has started in earnest, because flowers appear on new growth.
Pruning new growth off from your abelia means less flowers will appear.
The pruning can be severe if needed. Best results are when you shape the shrub to help it keep a dense, opaque bearing and leafage.
Since glossy abelia resists most diseases and parasites very well, normally you won’t need to treat it.
Each task on a glossy abelia has its own moment, and getting the timing right is what decides how well the shrub grows back and how freely it flowers.
| Job | When | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Planting | Fall or spring | Fall planting makes regrowth easier |
| Taking cuttings | Summer | Use new wood not yet hardened off, 6 inches (15 cm) long |
| Pruning | End of winter or beginning of spring | Encourages growth and blooming, since flowers form on new growth |
| Repotting a potted plant | Every 2 or 3 years | Keeps a container-grown shrub in shape, together with frequent pruning |
| Watering | Summer evenings | Reduces evaporation; only for the first 2 years or in a long dry spell |
| Mulching | Winter | Protects roots from freezing, above all in pots |
Keep to this rhythm and the shrub largely looks after itself the rest of the year.
Most named glossy abelias differ in leaf colour and in how big they get, which decides whether they suit a low hedge, a border or a pot. The table below compares the varieties most often found in garden centres and mainstream catalogues.
| Variety | Foliage | Flower colour | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| ‘Rose Creek’ | Glossy green, purple tints in winter | White with pink sepals | Mass planting, edging |
| ‘Prostrata’ | Small green leaves, bronze in winter | White | Ground cover, bank planting |
| ‘Little Richard’ | Dense glossy green, bronze in winter | White | Clipped low hedge, pots |
| ‘Canyon Creek’ | Copper new growth ageing to gold-green | Pale pink | Informal hedge, border |
| ‘Compacta’ | Small glossy green | White | Tight low hedge |
| ‘Francis Mason’ | Yellow-margined green | Pinkish white | Mixed border, low hedge |
| ‘Sunrise’ | Gold-margined green | White | Colour accent, hedge |
| ‘Kaleidoscope’ | Gold and green, red-tinted in winter | White | Pots, front of border |
| ‘Confetti’ (Conti) | White-margined, pink in cold weather | White | Low edging, containers |
| ‘Hopleys’ | Bright yellow-edged | Pale pink | Border specimen, hedge |
| ‘Sherwood’ | Small, glossy green | White | Low hedging, edging |
| ‘Mardi Gras’ | Green, cream and rose-pink | Pinkish white | Pots, edging |
Glossy abelia is a beautiful shrub with evergreen or semi-evergreen foliage that blooms from early summer to early autumn, but might also bloom longer depending on climate behavior.
There are about thirty glossy abelia species and most bear evergreen leaves.
The most commonly available varieties are Abelia chinensis, Abelia floribunda and Abelia grandiflora.
Glossy abelia is mostly planted to prepare low-lying hedges.
Glossy abelia can be used as a hedge shrub for hedges up to 3 feet (1 meter) high, even in garden boxes on a terrace or balcony where its small size will let it stay put in case of wind.
Plant-based mulch is a good idea in winter to protect the roots against freezing, especially potted glossy abelia.
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Watering in summer should be performed in the evening to reduce evaporation and then again, only over the 2 first years or in case of extended dry spell.
