Abelia grandifolia

Description:

Glossy abelia is a semi-evergreen shrub with arching branches clothed with small glossy oval, dark green leaves and clusters of white bell-shaped flowers.

Other names:

Glossy Abelia

Other Names

Glossy Abelia

Plant Summary

Size:

2m (h) – 1.5m (w)

Flowers:

Jan – Feb & Oct – Dec

Growth Rate:

Medium – Fast

Origin:

Eastern Asia

Watering Needs

Maintenance

Light Preference

Frost Sensitivity

Light Preference

Abelia grandifolia

care guide

When to fertilise

Once in spring, and then one in mid-summer

How to Fertilise

Use a 10-10-10 slow-release fertiliser to boost the nutrients to the soil just as the plant is in its peak growth period.

When to prune

Late winter or early spring. Abelia blossoms on new wood, so avoid pruning after spring growth begins.

Prune Abelia to maintain size and shape beginning in its third growing season.

How to prune

Remove some of the basal shoots and cane ends to make room for new growth in the spring

The Abelia Grandiflora can be grown in chalk, loam, and sandy soils as long as it is well-fertilised with organic fertilisers. The Abelia can tolerate soils with a pH between 5.0 – 8.0.

Abelias are drought and heat tolerant once established but perform best with regular watering. Water deeply once a week during summer.

When Abelia's flower

January – February and October – December

How to encourage flowering

The lack of flowers on your glossy abelia me be due to winter dormancy or due to over-pruning. Over-pruning is apparent if the plant is large and has a lot of foliage but with few to no flowers.

Abelia grandifolia

propagation

Propagate Abelia Grandiflora from stem cuttings.

Propagating by cuttings

The best time to take a cutting is in spring when growth hormones are active.

Snip a 7.5- 15 cm cutting from the soft, new growth, of an established plant.
Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting and dip the tip in a rooting hormone (Dynaroot #2 is my go to choice for most plants)
Place the dipped end into a container of dampened sterile seed starting mix that drains well.
Place the container in a warm spot with indirect sunlight and mist the cutting daily to ensure that the soil does not dry out.
The cuttings should take root in about 4 weeks. Test for root growth by (very) gently tugging on the cuttings to feel if there is some resistance.
Transplant the cuttings into individual 10-cm pots that contain professional potting mixture.
Pinch off the very top of the cutting to encourage branching or leave the stem intact to allow the newly rooted plant to increase in height.