Flower Encyclopedia: Abelia Abelia is a popular semi evergreen, garden shrub with real flower power. It is found in Eastern Asia and Southern North America and has about 20 species. The plant is wonderful for later summer borders. Some of the plant species also have great fragrance.
When fully grown, Abelia has a spread of 2 m and reaches 1 to 6m height. The form of the shrub is dense round, multi stemmed, and arching branches. Though Abelia has green glossy leaves which looks wonderful, it is planted more for its beautiful flowers. The flowering of Abelia continues over a long and continuous late spring to fall period.
A widely grown hybrid of Abelia is the Abelia x grandiflora. This species has funnel shaped white flowers which are also white tinged pink in color. The shrub grows quickly and soon fills up the garden space. The flowers are fragrant and pretty. The leaves are dark green in color.
Abelia needs sheltered sunny positions to grow. It prefers moist well drained site but tolerates clay, damp or dry soil. The Abelia is also very attractive to some butterflies, quite often a half a dozen are always fluttering around the blossoms. The Abelia also attracts many other insects. The bumblebees are a laugh - they bumble around the bush and it's funny watching them trying to get their large heads as deep as possible into the flowers.
Did you know?
• Abelias' are named for Dr. Clark Abel (1780-1826), a British physician & naturalist to Lord Amherst's embassy to China. Dr. Abel introduced Abelia chinensis to western gardening in the old days of the most famed Plant Explorers. He published a marvelous travelogue in 1818, entitled Narrative of a Journey into the Interior of China & of a Voyage to & from that Country in the years 1816 & 1817, including his journeys to Korea & the Philippines, illustrated with exquisite color plates.
• Abelia will be evergreen to semi-deciduous at temperatures as low as 15 degrees; at zero degrees.
• Canyon Creek is a beautiful new Abelia from Michael Dirr. The foliage is a lovely golden yellow, and it's enhanced by new leaves which emerge coppery pink, a colorful highlight all summer.
