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Abelia is a popular semi
evergreen, garden shrub with real flowers 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.
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