Glossy Abelia (Abelia × grandiflora) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Glossy abelia is an ornamental shrub grown in U.S. gardens, created by crossing two Asian abelias. Its arching branches carry small, glossy leaves and lightly fragrant, bell-shaped flowers that are white to pale pink.

Appearance

Growth form: This many-stemmed shrub grows about 2.5–8 ft (0.8–2.4 m) tall, with branches that arch outward.
Leaves: Its small, glossy green leaves may turn bronze or purple in fall. In colder parts of its growing range, it can lose its leaves for winter.
Flowers: Clusters of white to pale pink, bell-shaped flowers have pink or reddish that remain after bloom.
Flowering time: In North Carolina, it blooms from late spring into fall.
Fruit: It makes a small, dry, one-seeded fruit that is easy to overlook.

Look-alikes

Old-fashioned weigelaWeigela florida

Weigela usually makes a heavy spring display of larger pink to red flowers. Glossy abelia has smaller, paler flowers that keep appearing into fall, with reddish calyxes left behind.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: gardens
hedges
landscape borders
Range: It is grown as an ornamental in the United States, including North Carolina. It is not native to North America.
Preferred conditions: It flowers best in full sun and grows in moist, well-drained soil. It grows in 6–9.

Growing it

Propagation: Garden plants can be propagated from stem cuttings.

Name and classification

Varieties and forms: Cultivars include 'Confetti' with cream-edged leaves and 'Kaleidoscope' with leaves that change color through the season.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

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