Abelia shrubs are prized for their glossy foliage, long flowering period, and low-maintenance nature, making them ideal for New Zealand gardens. Whether you're creating a decorative hedge, filling a mixed border, or adding year-round interest to your landscape, Abelia offers versatility and beauty. In this guide, you'll learn how to plant, grow, prune, and care for Abelia to keep it thriving in a range of NZ conditions.
Caring for Abelias is about making sure the plants are growly strongly. Our plant care articles provide the necessary details to give you the greatest chance of success. Afterall, there is nothing worse than putting the effort into planting for them to fail. Therefore, follow our advice for Abelia care and give yourself the best chance of success.
Abelia shrubs prefer well-drained soil. In general, water deeply and infrequently, allowing the soil to dry slightly between watering. Established Abelia plants typically need about 1-2 inches (25-50 mm) of water per week. However, adjust the frequency based on weather conditions; during hot, dry periods, you may need to water more often.
The most important part starts with planting and our article, How To Plant An Abelia, provides sound advice on how to do this properly. So, let’s now assume your plant is growing well and you want to keep it that way!
Winter is the perfect time for mulching and trimming your plants. Trimming can be aggressive or subtle as you like. Typically, plants are trimmed to contain growth and encourage fresh, new foliage. Abelia will generally sprout away again no matter how hard they are cut back and provided the stem is healthy.
Organic matter such as compost or sheep pellets should be spread liberally around the plants and then overlaid with a mulch during winter. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommend stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes. The Plant Company does not recommend adding fertiliser during winter as this is better applied in spring so less is wasted. However, adding organic matter such as compost is quite okay.
Spring is the perfect time for fertilising the plants as they start to bounce into life. The Plant Company has fertilisers which have been specially blended for different plants and in this instance, our shrub fertiliser will give them the correct boost and keep them fed for 12-months. A suitable alternative is our organic fertiliser which will also keep them well fed but they will require a secondary application in autumn.
Summer is when the plants need regular watering, and this should be undertaken every second day on the hottest days. Plants that are establishing need particular attention as their root system will not have penetrated deep enough to secure consistent moisture yet.
Caring for Abelia in autumn is about keeping the plants healthy. Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken during spring, summer, and autumn if you have time but this is not essential if solid fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have already been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser won’t hurt.
Plants should be checked for pest or disease issues during spring, summer, and autumn. If anything is looking a little bit unusual, check out our article covering common pests and diseases for more information.
Abelia are generally a pest- and disease-resistant, but on occasion they can experience some issues:
If you see any pests or diseases on your Abelia, treat them immediately with a suitable insecticide or fungicide.
There is a wealth of information about Abelias and often The Plant Company is asked specific questions about them. Hopefully you’ll find answers to general questions in this series of articles.
Whether or not abelia have a fragrance depends on the variety. Some varieties, such as Abelia mosanensis (Korean abelia), have fragrant flowers that emit a sweet, jasmine-like scent. Other varieties, such as Abelia grandiflora, do not have fragrant flowers.
Yes, Albelia is the same as Abelia. It is simply a misspelling of the Abelia.
Abelia are great plants for many reasons:
Overall, Abelia are great plants for gardeners of all skill levels. It is a beautiful, low-maintenance, and versatile plant that can be used in a variety of ways in the garden.
Abelia is a genus of flowering shrubs native to eastern Asia. They are known for their long flowering, attractive foliage, and resistance to pests and diseases. Abelia are relatively easy to care for and make a great addition to any landscape. Some of their key characteristics include:
Abelia is a genus of flowering shrubs in the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae). It is native to eastern Asia and southern North America. There are over 30 species of Abelia, but only a few are commonly grown in gardens. There is no other common name for Abelia. However, some of the different species of Abelia have their own common names, such as:
Growing an Abelia hedge takes some thought and planning to ensure you get what you are after. Factors such as the hedge spacing, desired height, and trimming are all important considerations. The Plant Company have produced this series of articles to provide advice for trimming an Abelia hedge and pruning individual bushes so you can manicure your plants with confidence and success.
Abelia make amazing informal hedges (i.e., minimally trimmed) and to create an outstanding hedge, space plants 50-75 cm apart. The faster you want the hedge to fill in, the closer they should be planted. Similarly, space plants closely if you want a dense hedge quickly (50 cm apart).
The hedge can be trimmed as little or as much as you want given it is the informality you are wanting. Sometimes, however, it is the natural shape of the plants that clients are after but still with the hedge closing in to a large extent. In these situations, The Plant Company recommends spacing plants 1.5 m apart, though they will take longer to close together in this situation.
Abelia are trimmed each winter to contain growth and encourage fresh, new growth. The Plant Company recommends they are lightly trimmed each year to the size you are after and allowing for 50 cm of extension growth. You can be as aggressive as you want as the plants will sprout new buds from healthy stumps. Any dead stems should also be removed at this time, along with stems that show disease.
A mistake often made is to not prune the plants hard enough. This error generally results in a woodier plant and a much larger plant that can be difficult to contain. Abelia are very forgiving plants and even if you get the trimming wrong, they will recover!
The best time to prune Abelia is generally in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. The Plant Company recommends this time also because the flowering will be less impacted. If you are growing the Abelia as a hedge, you may need to give it a trim in mid-autumn if it has been growing strongly.
Abelia can be trimmed at any time of the year, though late winter is the time recommended by The Plant Company. It is the new growth that makes the plants look amazing, so cutting out the older growth to make way for the new growth and flowers in spring is the goal. All you need is a good pair of secateurs and you can be as aggressive as you want. The plants will sprout new buds from stumps as long as they are not diseased or you haven’t got too carried away with the trimming.
The Plant Company has a range of Abelia varieties and the choice depends on the what the plant is to be used for. The most common uses are for hedging, adding to a mixed planting, or growing as specimen plants. Our short articles delve into the popular varieties and uses for Abelia.
The names Abelia grandiflora and Abelia x grandiflora refer to the same plant. Abelia grandiflora was the original name given to the hybrid shrub resulting from the crossing of Abelia chinensis and Abelia uniflora. In regards to Abelia x grandiflora, the "x" in this name signifies a hybrid, and "grandiflora" remains the species epithet (descriptive part) of the combined parent plants. Therefore, both names are technically correct and interchangeable when referring to the Glossy Abelia shrub. However, the use of Abelia x grandiflora is becoming increasingly common to accurately reflect the hybrid nature of the plant and avoid any confusion with its parent species.
The list of Abelias that The Plant Company has worked on, propagated, and marketed is extensive. Our database of Abelia varieties is listed below:
Abelia grandiflora, also known as Glossy Abelia, is a popular ornamental shrub valued for its attractive foliage and long-lasting flowers. Here's a closer look at its key characteristics:
Habit and Growth:
Growing Conditions:
Overall, Abelia grandiflora is a versatile and low-maintenance shrub that adds beauty and interest to any landscape. Its attractive foliage, long flowering, and compact size make it a great choice for borders, hedges, or foundation plantings.
Abelia 'Lavender Mist' is a compact, deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub valued for its attractive foliage and long flowering. Some of its key characteristics include:
Habit and Growth:
Growing Conditions:
Overall, Abelia 'Lavender Mist' is a versatile and low-maintenance shrub that adds colour and interest to gardens and landscapes. Its compact size makes it suitable for smaller gardens, borders, foundation plantings, or even container gardening.
Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' is a cultivar of Abelia x grandiflora, and is considered to be a great choice for a low hedge. Here's a few reasons why:
Overall, Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' offers a good balance of aesthetics and functionality, making it a suitable choice for creating a low, informal hedge that adds seasonal colour and year-round interest to your garden.
Abelia are commonly planted with other flowering shrubs and perennials, such as:
There are over 30 species of Abelia, but only a few are commonly grown in New Zealand:
Planting Abelia and getting them to grow well is generally easy when you get a few of the basics right. This involves planting them in the right soil type, choosing the most ideal planting position, selecting the correct size and variety, and ensuring the plants have the essentials to thrive. The Plant Company has the right advice to ensure success when you are growing an Abelia hedge or standalone plants.
Abelia look amazing when managed appropriately in a pot. Choose a pot that is no more than twice the size of what the Abelia is currently growing in and that has plenty of drainage holes in the bottom. Fill the bottom of the pot to about 1/3 of the way up with potting mix. Do not use soil or compost when growing plants in a container and do not add fertiliser. The Plant Company potting mix has all the nutrients required to sustain the plant for the next 12 months.
Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. Place the plant in the pot without removing any of the growing media or cutting the roots. You can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. If the roots have been circling the inside of the pot or they look totally root bound, you don’t need to cut them (refer to, Managing Rootbound Plants, for why we don’t cut them). Add more potting mix and firm this around the plant using gentle pressure, then water well. They should be watered twice a week during hot weather and weekly or fortnightly during cooler periods.
Add more potting mix and firm this around the plant using gentle pressure, then water well. They should be watered twice a week during hot weather and weekly or fortnightly during cooler periods. The key to having a beautiful Abelia in a pot is to keep trimming it to keep it shapely, contained, and dense. Typically, the plants would be lightly clipped every 2-3 months.
Abelia make amazing hedges (both formal and informal) and to create an outstanding hedge The Plant Company recommends spacing them 50 cm apart. The faster you want the hedge to fill in, the closer they should be planted is the general rule. With this planting regime they will close in quickly and also push each other upwards as they compete for light. The result is a fabulous hedge every time.
You can go out to 75 cm if the budget is tight but that will often result in a gap at the bottom between plants which is hard to fill. The gap results from the natural vase shape with which these plants grow. In this situation opt for smaller grade sizes and plant more of them rather than going with bigger plants as this will make the money go further and produce a better result in the longer term.
Choose a full sun position with good drainage for your Abelia. The hole should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. A planting spade makes the hole digging a lot easier. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread that on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.
Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. If the roots have been circling the inside of the pot or they look totally root bound, you don’t need to cut them as the this does more damage and adds no benefit from our experience and research (refer to, Managing Rootbound Plants, for more information).
Now place the plant in the hole and make sure it is level with the soil surface before filling in around it. If it is above the soil surface, dig more out. If it is below, put in more soil and retest the level. Once the plant is set level with the soil surface, add more soil gradually and firm it around the plant using gentle pressure as you go. Scatter shrub fertiliser across the soil surface after planting and the give the plant a good watering.
Abelia are generally propagated by cuttings. Take a 150 mm (6-inch) cutting from a healthy stem in the spring or summer. Remove the bottom leaves from the cutting and dip the cut end in rooting hormone. Plant the cutting in a moist potting mix and place it in a warm, bright spot. Keep the potting mix moist and the cutting should root within a few weeks.
Abelia are vigorous plants that require feeding to keep them growing optimally. The Plant Company’s shrub fertiliser has been blended to give plants an initial boost and then sustained nutrition for 12-months. We recommend the fertiliser is applied to the soil surface in spring just as the plants start to grow actively. More importantly, we advise that no fertiliser is placed in the hole at planting, but rather spread around the soil surface so it can wash through the roots as it releases. Our fertiliser ensures that nutrients remain in the soil around the plant rather than being lost through the soil profile to where the plant cannot reach it. This also applies to plants grown on sandy soils. It is therefore very environmentally friendly and longer lasting than most other products in the market.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if shrub fertiliser has been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush.
The best place to plant Abelia is in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. They can tolerate some shade, but will flower best in full sun. The soil should be moist but not soggy as this can cause root rot issues. Abelias are relatively drought tolerant once established, but they will benefit from regular watering during the first year.
Here are some options for using Abelia in your garden:
When planting Abelia, be sure to leave enough space for it to grow to its full size. Most Abelia varieties grow to be 2-3 metres tall and wide.
Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.
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