Abelia grandiflora

This is the original type of Abelia from which many new varieties have been bred, a strong growing and bushy semi evergreen shrub with arching branches clothed in small glossy green leaves. During the Summer and Autumn months a steady succession of abundant, pink flushed white tubular flowers are produced (much loved by bees) and they have a slight scent. When the flowers are spent, not only are they replaced with new ones for months on end, the pink calyces (the outermost circle of the flower structure) remain on the shrub after the petals drop giving extra interest and colour. This colourful shrub is often in flower from June through until at least October.

Abelia grandiflora makes a good addition to a sunny mixed border or a cottage garden where its arching branches will be clothed with flowers throughout the summer and autumn, many other shrubs and perennials will come and go over the seasons but the Abelia grandiflora will keep your display looking good!

Owing to its dense and bushy habit of growth, this versatile shrub is also suitable for trimming as a small to moderately sized hedge in a sunny and sheltered spot. An Abelia grandiflora hedge can be maintained anywhere between 60 and 150cm, with some early formative pruning (by trimming the sides) a bushy hedge can be produced within a few seasons due to the moderate/fast growth rate of 40-60cm per year.

Your Abelia hedge can be kept as an informal feature (by trimming once a year in late winter or early spring before the new leaves emerge) and letting the  branches develop through the season with lots of flowers on the ends of them) or trimmed more than once during the season to achieve a more formal and geometric look. This looks great too and with its small glossy leaves it is well suited to neat trimming (like the photo opposite) but this approach will likely sacrifice many flowers in pursuit. Either looks great, its very much a matter of preference.

 

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How to grow Abelia grandiflora

Position: Sun or partial shade, not a shrub for exposed inland sites but does do well by the sea.

Foliage: Semi Evergreen, leaves persist for most of the year but many may drop in very cold spells (and re leaf the following spring)

Soil and site: Any soil except very dry

Flowering time: continuously through summer and autumn.

Growth rate: moderate/fast at 40-60cm per year

Ultimate height and spread: 250cm high and wide if untrimmed.

Hardiness: reasonably hardy, at its best in a sunny sheltered spot.

Aftercare: Water regularly after planting and through the first season until established. Prune or trim in late winter/early spring.

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