Plant of the month - Abelia

Plant of the Month - Abelia

Now we are in September, it can often feel as if the summer is over, but there are lots of plants still to flower into the autumn months and one of my favourite shrubs for this time of year is Abelia. Not only are they evergreen, but they also have the advantage of a long flowering season too, so are an excellent addition to a garden and worth some space. While we fuss and bother about deadheading and keeping borders looking lovely, this beautiful arching shrub just gets better and better.

Abelias are part of the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae) and are native to Asia and Mexico. They were first introduced in England in the 1840s and are named after the keen naturalist and plant hunter Clarke Abel (not to be confused with the famous Hollywood actor!). Grown naturally in warmer climates, these plants thrive in a sunny sheltered, south or west facing position in most soils, and once established they are fairly drought tolerant, so planting by a wall is ideal.

Mainly evergreen, apart from in the harshest of winters, the graceful arching stems are covered with small shiny, ovate leaves with masses of funnel shaped flowers, white tinged with pale pink from mid-summer right through to October. This makes them a fabulous plant for pollinators as well as a wonderful backdrop to compliment other later summer flowers such as echinacea, sedums and aster, along with the second flush of roses. Once the pale petals have fallen, the blush pink calyces (base of the flower) remain and extend the season of interest into the Autumn.

There are over 30 different species but here are some varieties that are reliable and worth considering, depending on the size of the space you are dealing with.

Abelia x grandiflora - this is the most vigorous variety that can grow to 2.1m high and wide, so perfect for the back of a border. To maintain a good shape, prune older branches back in the spring by two thirds.

Abelia ‘Edward Goucher’ - very similar to x grandiflora, but a more medium size, growing to 1.5m high and wide, so a good choice for smaller gardens. The bright green leaves are tinged bronze at the tips and the pale pink flowers are lightly perfumed.

Abelia x grandiflora ‘Kaleidoscope’ - this variegated variety has green and gold leaves with bronze tints that become deeper in the Autumn with warm shades of red. This plant doesn’t get too large, just 90cm x 1.2m and likes an open position.

Abelia parvifolia ‘Bumblebee’ a similar size to ‘Kaleidoscope’ - with green leaves and tan new shoots in the spring. This compact and bushy plant with larger flowers is great for pollinating insects and ideal for the front of a border on in a large pot.