GROWING ABELIA

Zones:

4 to 11, varies by type

Height/Spread:

Upright arching habit, 2 to 10 feet tall and 2 to 8 feet wide

Exposure:

Full sun to partial shade; foliage color and bloom are best in full sun.

Bloom time:

Spring to fall

Color and characteristics:

Oval, pointed leaves up to two inches long are produced on graceful, arching branches. Foliage is glossy green or yellow, with hints of rose, orange, bronze or burgundy. Some are variegated or multi-colored. Many varieties have leaves that change color as the seasons progress. Tubular flowers with four or five petals form in clusters on the tips of the stems. The small flowers, which are usually fragrant, come in shades of white, pink and yellow. Other attributes include colored sepals and stems, fall color and exfoliating bark.

Toxicity:

Abelia is not known to be toxic to children or pets, and is sometimes used as hedging for pastures.

When to plant:

Plant during milder months of spring or fall to avoid heat or cold stress.

Where to plant:

Choose a sunny to lightly shaded site with fertile, well-draining soil that will stay evenly moist.

How to plant:

Loosen soil in the planting area and amend with compost. Remove plant from container and gently tease out roots or slice the root ball in several places if potbound. Dig a hole slightly deeper than the root ball and twice as wide. Place the plant in the hole so the top of the root ball is slightly above ground level. Fill in the hole, tamp down soil around the base and water well. Spacing depends on the variety.

Sweet Emotion® abelia (Abelila mosanensis). Photo by Proven Winners.

Pruning and deadheading:

Abelia looks best when allowed to retain its natural shape and size. Since glossy abelia (A. xgrandiflora) blooms on new wood, prune in late winter to early spring before new growth emerges so that flowers are not sacrificed. Remove any dead or damaged branches, and thin as needed to encourage new shoots. Lightly prune to shape. Some varieties produce long, errant watershoots (thin shoots that grow out of the trunk or branches); cut those out whenever they appear. To reinvigorate your abelia, thin out up to a third of the branches every few years. Deciduous varieties that bloom on old wood (such as A. mosanensis) should be pruned lightly as needed just after flowering.

Soil:

Abelia prefers slightly acidic, organically rich soil that’s kept moderately moist and drains well, but is tolerant of a variety of conditions.

Amendments & fertilizer:

Apply a slow-release fertilizer formulated for woody plants in early spring. Mulch around the root zone with organic matter to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Watering:

Though drought and heat tolerant once established, it performs best with regular watering. Irrigate once or twice a week during summer.

Diseases and pests:

When planted in optimal conditions, abelia exhibits few, if any problems. Possible diseases include powdery mildew and anthracnose. Pests include aphids.

Deer resistance:

Deer will leave it alone for the most part, though extreme conditions can result in deer grazing on plants they wouldn’t otherwise.

With different sizes and forms to choose from, here are some tips to consider:

For borders and landscapes:

Choose varieties that will fit the scale of your landscape. Use as hedging, screening, in a mixed border, as foundation plantings or a stand-alone focal point. Make sure to allow room for plants to mature without becoming crowded.

For slopes and hillsides:

Select varieties suitable to the size of your property and mass along a slope or hillside for erosion control.

For containers:

Dwarf types will stay small and not overwhelm a space. Use as a stand-alone focal point in a container, or group with other containerized plants for maximum visual impact.

There are many ways to incorporate abelia into your landscape. Here’s how:

• Plant a hedge along the front of your yard between the lawn and sidewalk as a living fence.
• Use a medium or larger variety as hedging to break the landscape into individual garden rooms.
• Plant a dwarf variety in a pot and place on a patio, deck or near your home’s front entrance for a dramatic focal point and up-close fragrance.
• Use as a background plant to set off flowering annuals and perennials.
• Site plants near your living room or kitchen window to enjoy hummingbirds and butterflies up close.
• Plant medium-sized varieties along your home’s foundation where they won’t become overgrown and obstruct window views.
• Place midway in a border in combination with other complementary shrubs, small trees and perennials.
• Use a smaller variety as edging along a pathway, as a foundation planting, or a stand-alone accent.
• Abelia combines well with a wide variety of perennials, trees, shrubs and groundcovers. Plant alongside companions with similar cultivation needs, such as spirea, maiden grass, weigela, phlox or iris.