Growing glossy abelia will give you years of enjoyment from this easy-care, flowering shrub.
Glossy abelia(Abelia x grandiflora)is aneasy-to-grow flowering shrubwell-suited for foundation beds and mixed shrub borders.
The small, glossy green leaves turn purple-bronze or shades of orange in autumn.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Count on the fragrant, bell-shaped flowers to appear in late spring and continue opening through fall.
This guide to growing glossy abelia includes tips on watering, fertilizing, pruning, and more.
In Zones 6 and 7, protect this shrub from extreme cold by planting it in a sheltered location.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
It frequently dies back to ground level when the air temperature dips to 0F.
A south-facing foundation or protected patio area are good planting locations in Zones 6 and 7.
In the landscape, add glossy abelia to a mixed border for evergreen color in warm zones.
Credit: Robert Cardillo
Mix small cultivars into a perennial bed for year-round structure.
Plant tall cultivars near a property line or wherever you need aliving screen.
This shrub forms a strong root system so works well for stabilizing slopes.
Credit:Doug Hetherington
One of abelias most loved characteristics is its fragrant flowers.
How and When to Plant Glossy Abelia
Plant glossy abelia in early spring or early fall.
Dig a hole as deep as the plants root ball and slightly wider.
Backfill the planting hole with the native soil and tamp it firmly to eliminate air pockets.
Spread a 2-inch-thicklayer of mulcharound the plants root zone to conserve soil moisture and prevent weeds.
Water glossy abelia regularly for about eight weeks after planting to encourage new roots to grow.
Aim to provide the young plant with about 1 inch of water per week.
When natural rainfall totals fall short, water the plant by hand.
Glossy abelia has good drought tolerance and doesnt require supplemental watering after it establishes a strong root system.
Glossy Abelia Care Tips
Light
Grow glossy abelia infull sun or part shade.
It flowers best when it receives eight or more hours of direct sunlight daily.
Abelia will grow in part shade but with a more open form and significantly fewer flowers.
Soil and Water
Glossy abelia tolerates a range of soil conditions.
It grows well in clay, sandy soil, and loam if water drains freely.
It doesnt grow well in consistently wet or boggy soils.
Water glossy abelia deeply about once a week to promote growth and flowering during extended dry periods.
In Zones 6 and 7, glossy abelia dies back to ground level during extremely cold winter conditions.
Winter-damaged abelia will send up new shoots in spring, which should produce abundant flowers and foliage.
Glossy abelia shrubs do best in moderate humidity.
Fertilizer
Glossy abelia doesnt require fertilizer to grow and flower well.
A slow-growing or weak plant might benefit from a 2-inch-thicklayer of compost spread over its root zone.
The compost will add sufficient nutrients.
Pruning
Prune glossy abelia in late winter or very early spring.
This shrub produces its flower buds in spring.
Prune plants before growth actively begins to reduce the chance of pruning away developing flower buds.
Rejuvenate an overgrown abelia by selectively removing about one-third of the largest stems to ground level.
Prune the remaining branches back by one-third of their length.
Water the shrub regularly for several weeks after the extensive pruning.
Potting and Repotting Glossy Abelia
Abelia thrives in a large container filled withhigh-quality potting soil.
Be sure to water the container daily during warm weather to encourage good growth.
Fertilize the plant with aslow-release fertilizer mixed into the soilin spring and late summer.
Repotting can be done yearly but isn’t necessary.
Pests and Problems
Glossy abelia has no significant pests or diseases.
Cut back the dead stems in early spring and expect new growth to emerge within a few weeks.
Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting and dip the end intorooting hormone.
Place the container in a warm, shady area for a couple of months until roots form.
It has white flowers and grows 2 to 3 feet tall and wide.
Funshine
Abelia grandifloraFunshine has yellow-orange foliage all summer and purple flowers.
Grow this 2- to 3-foot-tall abelia at the front of a shrub border.
Lucky Lots
Abelia grandifloraLucky Lots has striking variegated leaves and white flowers.
It grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide.
It grows 4 feet tall and wide.
Deutzia
Deutziasclaim to fame is its bountiful white or pink blooms in early spring.
Many varieties of winter daphne have variegated or two-tone leaves that give the shrub year-round interest.
Zones 6-10
Frequently Asked Questions
Ample sunlight is necessary for abelia to produce flowers.
It flowers best when it receives eight hours of sunlight a day.
Pruning is another possible factor in the lack of flowers.
Abelia blooms on new wood.
If you prune your plant in spring, you might cut off the developing flower buds.
As soon as new growth develops, the plant will bloom again.
In Zones 6 and 7, abelia frequently dies back to ground level in winter.
It is sensitive to cold temperatures.
Abelia is classified as a semi-evergreen plant in most areas.
Cold weather spurs it to drop foliage.
It will regrow new leaves in spring.
