Fragrant and aesthetically pleasing, the Abelia grandiflora has become an incredibly popular garden plant. Hybrid cultivation, this species offer glossy, dome-growing foliage and soft floral accents which grace the shrub throughout the spring and summer months.
Whether grown in isolation or as part of a hedge, this plant requires very little attention for a lot of aesthetic value. Here is how you can grow and care for Abelia grandiflora in your garden.
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What is Abelia Grandiflora?
The Abelia grandiflora is hybrid cultivation of the Linnaea x grandiflora species originating from East Asia. Part of the Caprifoliaceae family, or honeysuckle, the Abelia grandiflora produces a cluster of pink-tinged and white flowers, which are heavy pollen producers.
The blooms consist of dark pink or bronze tinged sepals with a small white flower on top. Also affectionately known as the glossy abelia, this cultivar is considered a medium-growing, semi-evergreen shrub, only reaching around 3 to 6 feet.
The Abelia Grandiflora is often used as an informal hedge, border shrub or wall-lining shrub. What makes it such an ideal hedging candidate is its curious rounded growth, creating an almost dome shape.
Abelia Varieties
There are a few incredible cultivars closely related to this species. Each has slightly different growth habits and flower types. Here are some other great options you can consider:
Abelia × grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope' (Glossy Abelia)This is a versatile plant, with seasonal changing foliage and small white blooms. It’s a low grower, making it ideal for a small hedge or large ground cover. |  Source: gardenia.net |
Abelia x grandiflora 'Edward Goucher'Very similar to the glossy grandiflora variety, this cultivar also has dense green foliage and white blooms. When grown in full sun, the blooms often get a light purple tinge. |  Source: kalliergeia.com |
Abelia x grandiflora 'Rose Creek'This variety has distinct pink sepals, which turn burgundy throughout the autumn. This cultivar is great for container growth or more compact spaces in the garden. |  Source: thetreecenter.com |
Abelia x grandiflora 'Sunshine Daydream'This cultivar has a showy display, offering an almost year-round spectacle. It’s incredibly tolerant and ideal for areas that experience extreme heat and drought. |  Source: plants2gardens.com |
Abelia × grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope' (Glossy Abelia)
Source: gardenia.net
This is a versatile plant, with seasonal changing foliage and small white blooms. It’s a low grower, making it ideal for a small hedge or large ground cover.
Abelia x grandiflora 'Edward Goucher'
Source: kalliergeia.com
Very similar to the glossy grandiflora variety, this cultivar also has dense green foliage and white blooms. When grown in full sun, the blooms often get a light purple tinge.
Abelia x grandiflora 'Rose Creek'
Source: thetreecenter.com
This variety has distinct pink sepals, which turn burgundy throughout the autumn. This cultivar is great for container growth or more compact spaces in the garden.
Abelia x grandiflora 'Sunshine Daydream'
Source: plants2gardens.com
This cultivar has a showy display, offering an almost year-round spectacle. It’s incredibly tolerant and ideal for areas that experience extreme heat and drought.
How to Grow Abelia Grandiflora
For a lush and vigorous bloom, it’s best to grow your Abelia grandiflora in full sun or a partly shaded spot. As it can be damaged by strong gusts of wind, it is advisable to plant in a slightly sheltered area, in a south or west facing position.
As this cultivar needs sufficient sunlight, and due to its pollen production, it is best suited for outdoor growth. It is not advisable to try and grow this species indoors.
An average sandy or loam soil is suitable for this species, provided the soil retains sufficient moisture without becoming waterlogged.
For added benefit, you can mix in some mixed organic material or humus to support the soil moisture levels. It is important to note that the Linnea x grandiflora does have a lime sensitivity which can kill off roots.
If planting in a pot, it is essential to choose a rich potting soil and a pot with sufficient drainage holes.
Propagating Abelia Grandiflora
The Abelia grandiflora can be propagated by means of softwood or hardwood cuttings. Ideally, softwood cutting should be taken in the early summer. Hardwood cuttings can be taken in late summer.
Here is what you’ll need to do:
- Remove a cutting around 3 to 4 inches in length.
- Remove leaves around the lower 1/3 of the cutting, leaving around 3 to 5 healthy leaves at the top of the cutting.
- Dip into a rooting hormone, then pot deeply into wet soil.
- Keep in a warm and sunny spot.
Allow your cutting to develop healthy new growth before transplanting.
Planting Abelia Grandiflora
Whether planting into the ground or a pot, it is essential to wait until two weeks after the last frost before planting. Young plants grow best in dry, warm weather, so planting during a rainy season should also be avoided.
Prepare the soil before planting and dig a hole around twice the size of the root ball. If planning on growing a few as part of a hedge, it is a good idea to rather dig a semi-wide trench and run a string along the trench to ensure you plant each shrub in a straight row.
Abelia Grandiflora Care Instructions
Once planted, the Abelia grandiflora is an incredibly robust and low maintenance plant. Apart from maintaining moisture, your plants won’t give you too much worry.
It’s essential to ensure that the root ball does not dry out, especially during the summer. General soil moisture can be regulated with a soil moisture meter.
Pruning is not always necessary and can be done to regulate shape or to take cutting for propagation. Some gardeners suggest only pruning your Linnea x grandiflora every 3 to 4 years.
It is important to note that the cultivar is not incredibly adaptable to extreme cold. If planning on growing this cultivar in regions that experience harsh winters and frost, it may be important to cover your shrubs throughout the winter season.
Mulching at the base of the stem can also help to protect the root system from frost. One of the biggest benefits of this variety is that it is almost completely resistant to common pests and diseases.
Some gardeners report having issues with aphids if the plant is already experiencing distress; however, this can be deterred with insecticidal soap or Neem Oil.
Wrapping Up Our Abelia Grandiflora Guide
As long as you can maintain sufficient soil moisture, your evergreen shrub will continue to delight almost year-round. Plus, you’ll be able to enjoy the visual addition of pollen-feeding passers-by such as butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.
So, there you have it – all the reasons you should consider growing abelia grandiflora at home.
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