Abelia x grandiflora (Rovelli ex André) Rehder

Glossy Abelia; Large Flower Abelia

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Glossy Abelia is an introduced shrub in the Twinflower family (Linnaeaceae). It is a hybrid between Abelia chinensis and Abelia uniflora. It was created in 1886 at an Italian nursery. Glossy Abelia is commonly cultivated in Alabama and escapes or persists around old home sites, along fence rows, along roads, and near railroads. Glossy Abelia is a gangly evergreen or (in cold climates) deciduous shrub reaching heights of 6-8 feet. The young stems are red in color and pubescent. Stems are long and arching. The leaves are opposite, petiolate, ovate in outline, with serrate margins. The leaves are glabrous and the upper surface is very shiny. Young leaves are reddish or bronze in color, mature leaves are dark green. Flowers are produced throughout the summer on new growth at the ends of branches or from the axils of the leaves in panicles. There are two to five large reddish sepals. The flowers have a tubular 5-lobed corolla. Flower color varies from white through dark pink, and the flowers are slightly fragrant. The fruit is an achene crowned with persistent sepals. Glossy Abelia is very hardy and easy to grow in most any soil. Plants prefer full to partial sun. Plants should be pruned often to maintain them and promote flowering. Plants are drought tolerant and deer and insect resistant. Glossy Abelia is available from many nurseries, including cultivars with more compact growth forms, persistent reddish colored foliage, and dark pink flowers. Glossy Abelia can be propagated from cuttings.--A. Diamond

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Not Native

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