Abelia - Literature
li: Barnes, P. 2001. Looking at Abelias. New Plantsman 8(2): 78-92. (a highly recommended
li: clarification of nomenclature, history, and cultivars with an excellent key and photographs.)

li: Barnes, P. 2001. Notes from authors in New Plantsman 8(3): 188

li: Rehder, A. 1913. Synopsis of the genus Abelia. In Sargent, C. Plantae Wilsonianae I: 118-129.

li: Zabel, H. Ueder die gattung Abelia in Newsletters of the German Dendrological Soc. 1893: 29-31.

Abelia 'Edward Goucher' (A. x grandiflora x A. parvifolia)
ht: 3 ft. as young plants, eventually 5-6 ft.
st: new stems red
ll: 2-5cm
lw: 1-2cm
ls: narrowly ovate to ovate
la: acute to acuminate
lm: subentire
lc: dark glossy green above
lv: sparsely hair, glandular on both surfaces, midrib below slightly villlose
infl: solitary to few flowers
fd: corolla to 2.5cm long
fc: unevenly pigmented purplish-pink veined darker. Barnes says it averages RHS 74C and 77C .
or: Glenn Dale Plant Introduction Station, MD USA c. 1911 by Edward Goucher

Abelia engleriana 'Vedrariensis' (A. graebneriana 'Vedrariensis')
ll: larger than species typical
lc: darker green than species typical
fd: larger
fd: pink more blotched than species typical

Abelia x grandiflora 'Aurea' = 'Gold Spot'

'Canyon Creek' - click image
JC Raulston Arboretum. Fall 2004. Even when the abundant flowers begin to leave, the showy pink calyces add much interest.

Abelia x grandiflora 'Canyon Creek'
ht: 4-6 ft. tall x 4-6 ft. wide
lc: new growth bronze to copper, very showy, becoming bronzed-yellow, then green
afc: winter color is "antique bronze" and pink, quite showy in photos
fc: corolla blush to white, calyx a bright pink
fd: 0.25 in.
in, or: Dr. Michael Dirr, GA USA from open-pollinated A. chinensis. Introduced 2002.
photo, history: Nobleplants.com

Abelia x grandiflora 'Compacta'
ht: 3-4 ft.
ha: compact, not dwarf
ch: more cold hardy - zone 6 vs. 7 in the US.
id: it is apparently a bit larger than 'Sherwoodii' but we have no side-by-side trials to verify this.
so: Spring Meadow

CONFETTI™ 'Conti' - click image to enlarge

Abelia x grandiflora CONFETTI™ 'Conti'
ht: 3 ft. in time, commonly seen 1-2 ft. tall - smaller than 'Sherwood' of the same age
ha: said to be compact as is parent 'Sherwood'
lc: bright white but thin margin becoming tinged red or pink. One side of the blade usually more chimera
lc: than the other. Reversions occur but are minor in our observations. Margins are never light yellow to cream
lc: as with 'Sunrise'.
ll: 2.0-2.5cm long - shorter
lw: narrower, narrowly ovate to broadly lanceolate, sometimes slightly twisted.
ls: slightly twisted, giving a good reflection
fc: pink
pat: US #8472
or: sport of 'Sherwood' found by Flowerwood Nur. Barnes says Theodor's Nursery, AL USA.
so: Spring Meadow 1-800-633-8859 (wholesale)
eval: a beautiful plant viewed up close but it has little value at a distance. One should stick with
eval: a good variegated Euonymous for a bold effect. It's mainstream commercial appeal is somewhat
eval: doubtful. It is suitable for large rock gardens and needs to be placed within a few feet of the viewer.
so: source (Wind Rose Nursery)

Abelia x grandiflora 'Copper Glow' (7/99)
ns: a listed name, presumably with copper new growth or fall color - the species can do both.

Abelia x grandiflora [dwarf] ('Dwarf') some='Edward Goucher'
ha: dwarf
ns: listed in the RHS PLANT FINDER 2000-2001 but probably one of the named clones. Dirr states that
ns: stock under the name 'Dwarf' in the US is usually A. 'Edward Goucher'
li: Dirr, M.A. 1998. Man. Woody Land. Plts. Stipes Publ. p. 3

Abelia x grandiflora 'Dwarf Pink' = A. 'Edward Goucher'
ha: dwarf
li: Dirr, M.A. 1998. Man. Woody Land. Plts. Stipes Publ. p. 3

Abelia x grandiflora 'Dwarf Purple'
ha: dense and dwarf
ht: 2.5 ft.
lc: dark glossy green become reddish-purple in fall
ld: retains foliage in Roslyn NY until late winter
fc: lavender pink
bt: June until frost in Roslyn NY
ch: 5 with protection
id: Dirr says one plant he has under this name is ordinary 'Edward Goucher'
li: Dirr, M.A. 1998. Man. Woody Land. Plts. Stipes Publ. p. 3

'Francis Mason' - click image
Greensboro Arboretum, NC. Summer 2002. This very bright and compact example has more gold leaves than normal but in warmer climates we find the amount
of marginated tissue to be reduced.

Abelia x grandiflora 'Francis Mason' ('Variegata')
ht: 4-5 ft. in 5 years or less, easily 6-8 ft. in time
ha: vigorous unless most variegated shrubs but this encouraged reversions and irregular, leggy form
lc: broadly but irregular margined golden-yellow becoming margined greenish-yellow. All yellow shoots
lc: and green reversions are very common and must be removed once or twice a season. New growth is
lc: pinkish but there is seldom a tricolor look. Normal plants may be up to 50% all yellow leaves whereas
lc: those we call the Gold Sport Group are at least 98% all yellow leaves.
or: Mason's Nursery, New Zealand c. 1970, Dirr says 1950's.
in: known in the US trade since early 80's, perhaps before.
id: everybody, their brother, and cousin has tried to select all gold, more variegated, or unique clones
id: from this charming but variable plant. Many are named but few seem to be stable or distinct to date.

Gold Sport Group - click image to enlarge
Abelia x grandiflora Gold Sport Group is the collective term for the all gold or lime-gold sports of 'Francis Mason' which appear to be genetically and phenotypically identical. This one labeled 'Gold Spot' seems neither better nor different than the rest, therefore the cultivar group being best for them all collectively. As this gold sport occurs so many places at various times, naming them all separately is not justified in any case we know. The very youngest leaves are golden-yellow but they quickly turn lime than a lighter green than most other cultivars. It ends up being kind of a lemony-lime pile of leaves if it remains stable.LCH.

Abelia x grandiflora Gold Sport Group ('Goldspot', 'Goldsport', 'Aurea', 'Gold Strike')
lc: all golden yellow, rarely with much green, fading chartreuse to green by summer.
lc: reverts to green easily.
fq: sparsely flowering, likely due to a lack of chlorophyll density.
ns: this is a collective name for all-gold variants of 'Francis Mason' which are very
ns: common, some rooting well and others not, most fairly weak, all dubiously stable or worthy of
ns: propagation so far. There are surely many clones under this general grouping.
so: photo, wholesale source (Firma C. Esveld)
so: source (Bodiam UK)

Abelia x grandiflora 'Gold Spot' = Gold Sport Group

Abelia x grandiflora 'Gold Strike' = Gold Sport Group

Abelia x grandiflora 'Golden Glow' (12/99)
lc: margined yellow, more uniformly than 'Francis Mason'
fc: white
eval: should be compared to 'Sunrise' which is also a more stable, uniform selection.
or: USA

HOPLEYS 'Abghop' - click image
JC Raulston Arboretum. Fall 2004.

Abelia x grandiflora HOPLEYS 'Abghop'
ht: 80cm
lc: originally said to have an irregularly golden mottled center, said to revert less than 'Gold Spot'. Sometimes the chimera is
lc: a thin line about the midrib, other times it is 50% marked. The chimera seems to follow the secondary
lc: veins at times. The plant above certainly has some central markings but seems to be more gold margined plus streaked.
afc: pinkish tints
fd: more floriferous than 'Francis Mason'
or: Hopleys Nursery, UK c. 1992 as 'Francis Mason' sport

Abelia x grandiflora 'John Creech'
ht: 2 feet (vs. 6 feet for species) x 3 feet wide
ha: upright, compact, mound with age, much neater than hybrid species as typical. Dirr says
ha: it may not throw out long shoots as readily as 'Edward Gouchier'
lc: dark glossy green
fc: white
fs: similar to A. x grandiflora
ha: low spreading compared to larger globose typical clone
or: found by John Creech in Glenn Dale, MD possibly a sister seedling 'Edward Goucher' but we
or: do not believe it to be a hybrid. If it is a hybrid is much closer to A. x grandiflora.
eval: Dirr says it has great similarity to 'Edward Gouchier' as far commercial use in considered.
li: Dirr, M.A. 1998. Man. Woody Land. Plts. Stipes Publ. p. 2
so: Spring Meadow

Abelia x grandiflora 'Little Gem'
ha: compact
or: US

Abelia x grandiflora 'Little Richard'
ht: 2.5-3.0 ft. tall x slight wider - shorter than 'Sherwood' to date
ha: denser than 'Sherwood'
lc: dark glossy green
fc: white
fq: very floriferous
or: Richard Currin as sport of 'Sherwood'
so: source (Roslyn Nursery)
li: Dirr, M.A. 1998. Man. Woody Land. Plts. Stipes Publ. p. 2

Abelia x grandiflora 'Mardi Gras' (3/4)
lc: margined white, new growth pinkish
or: Rick Crowder
so, in: Planthaven.com (online catalog spring 2004)

Abelia x grandiflora 'Mei-fu-hana-tsukubane-utsugi'
lc: darker green with bright yellow margins all summer, also blotched yellow.
ha: dwarf yet strong growing
rai: should be compared to 'Frances Mason' which is probably taller
or: irradiated 'Hanazono-tsukubane-utsugi' clone by H. Suda in 1976

Abelia x grandiflora 'Nana' = 'Sherwood'

Abelia x grandiflora 'Prostrate White' ('Prostrata')
ha: 1m tall x 1.5m wide (Barnes), younger plants commonly 18-24 in. tall in the US landscape
ha: spreading but not dwarf or low.
lc: red new growth, showy
afc: often dark reddish-purple to reddish-bronze, showy
ld: tending to be more deciduous, even in California
pat: US #1431 in 1955 to Delvin D. Abbott
ns: the plant was patented under 'Prostrate White' and published in the US patent registers as such.
ns: Therefore this name should stand today.

Abelia x grandiflora 'Really Pink' (12/99)
fc: bright clear pink becoming lighter with age, staying medium pink
or: Sabuco
ch: cold hardy to -10 to -15 deg. F.
li: Hatch, L.C. 1983. Reference guide to ornamental plant cultivars. Taxonomic Computer Research.

'Rose Creek' - click image
Abelia x grandiflora 'Rose Creek' is the first clone released from Mike Dirr's breeding program at the University of Georgia. The reddish-pink calyx is very showy even when the contrasting white corollas are sparse or gone. This shot was taken on 9/30/02 and thus we show the many months of color this cultivar (and some others) can provide. It is more floriferous earlier in the year. Growth is more restrained than most of the hybrid species clones and that is a very good thing. 'Rose Creek' is a true winner. LCH

Abelia x grandiflora 'Rose Creek' (2/01)
ha: dense, very compact. Like most Abelias pruning out hyper-vigorous shoots is recommended.
ha: slighter wider than tall based on photo linked below.
ll: "small" - appear reduced in size from photos
lc: dark glossy green becoming purple-green in cold weather
fc: white with red calyx. The rose-red calyx is quite showy even after flowers are mostly gone. It
fc: shows rich colors into fall in plants we have seen.
fd: 0.5 in. long
fq: very floriferous up to 50% of surface
or: open-pollinated A. chinensis from Dirr's breeding program. Named by Mark Grifftith
or: of Watkinsville GA USA for Rose Creek of Oconee County GA USA
in: Mike Dirr 2001
lu: container, low hedge, mass plantings, mixed borders.
photo: Nobleplants.com

'Sherwoodii' - click both image
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond VA USA. Summer 2003. Young and floriferous examples of this proven compact clone. It is superior to the species for all but the
largest of planting spaces. Only the newer Dirr hybrids seem to have merit for comparison at this time. LCH. 

Abelia x grandiflora 'Sherwoodii' ('Sherwood', 'Nana')
ht: 3-4 ft. tall x 5 ft. wide
ha: compact, dense, sometimes reverting to a vigorous variant which must be removed.
fd: smaller than hybrid species typical but in scale to the smaller plant
ll: smaller than hybrid species typical
id: it does not belong to A. zanderi according to Barnes but is sometimes listed under that species.
ns: it has sometimes been said the name must be vernacular, lacking publication before 1959. However
ns: in the AAN Proceedings it was published as 'Sherwoodi'. Nomenclatural practice and the code allows
ns: us to accept this Latin name and correct it with a second letter i.
li: American Assoc. Nurseryman Proceedings 1949: 123 (as 'Sherwoodi')
eval: 'Little Richard' seems like a better plant

Abelia x grandiflora 'Short and Sweet'
ha: compact as parent 'Compacta'
in: MacLeans Ridges, NSW, Aust. c. 1999
li: Pearce, R. 2001. Plant Varieties Journal 14(1): 15-16.

Abelia x grandiflora SILVER ANNIVERSARYPVR 'Panache' ('Panash')
ht: 2 ft. tall x 3 ft. wide
ha: compact, spreading mound much as parent 'Prostrate White' ('Prostrata')
st: reddish, showy in contrast to the chimera
lc: margined a clean white to cream. It never light yellow in chimera as HOPLEYS and 'Sunrise'
id: similar to CONFETTI according to Barnes
in: Lynash Nurseries UK to British trade
in, so: Spring Meadow Nurseries (online catalog 2005), first intro. to US trade 2005
or: MInier Nurseries, France as sport of 'Prostrate White' ('Prostrata')
eval: one of the better variegated clones as a sport of an already proven, compact clone. Like
eval CONFETTI (a sport of 'Sherwoodii') it carries the qualities of the parent clone.

Abelia x grandiflora 'Snowdrift' - 7/99 ADDITION
so: photo, wholesale source

'Sunrise' - click image to enlarge
JC Raulston Arboretum, December 2004. Yes that is right. This is a December picture in USDA 7b. Note the chimera is perhaps more cream than yellow but
rich yellow pigments still persist. At the current time (January 2004) this is the finest of all the known variegated clones in the genus.

Abelia x grandiflora 'Sunrise'
ht: 4 ft. tall when 5 ft. wide
ha: dense and mounding
lc: bright wide light yellow margins with occasional streaks longitudinally
lc: into the center of the blade. Leaf is 30-55% yellow in many
lc: cases. New growth reddish. Reversions occur but not in great numbers.
lc: in winter mounts there are some pink and red tints and the margins are creamier and less yellow.
or: branch sport at Taylor's Nur. of Raleigh NC from species.
pat: US# 9968. Royalties support the Raulston Arboretum of North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh NC USA
eval: plant we have seen in Raleigh NC are more stable and uniform in margination than
eval: 'Francis Mason'. There is some indication it may flower better too. It is stronger and better than
eval: than CONFETTI though of a decidedly more gold coloration.
so: - source (Niche Gardens)

Abelia x grandiflora 'Variegata' = 'Francis Mason'

Abelia x grandiflora 'White Marvel' (9/02)
ht: 60-90cm
st: pinkish
lc: new grwtoh white, cream, or light yellow, becoming margined yellowish-green, finally margined bright
lc: yellow. Differs from 'Francis Mason' (we believe) in the color of the new growth.
lt: blades thick.
fc: white
fd; 1.0 x 1.5cm
or: Katsuya Sakaue before 2002 as sport of 'Francis Mason'
pat: US PPAF 6/13/02

Abelia mosanensis - click image

Abelia mosanensis - click image
Abelia mosanensis is a revelation. There is no finer plant in the genus for color of bloom and scent in my opinion. The aroma on a warm spring day (such as April 19th here in Raleigh NC) is impossible to miss from
 five or six feet away or less.  One almost thinks it some exotic tropic plant borrowed from a greenhouse. "What a lovely pink jasmine" comes to mind. It is only hardy to USDA 6 but even that rating makes
 it useful in scores of large cities where it is not yet tested or sold. LCH.

Abelia mosanensis

Abelia mosanensis BRIDAL BOUQUET 'Monia'
ht: 5 ft. tall x 5 ft. wide
ha: upright
fc: white
fq: abundant flowers
fs: campanulate (bell-shaped)
bt: May, June (CA)
lc: glossy bright green
afc: "fiery" red orange shades
or: Kordes Nur. Germany
in: Monrovia Nur. to US trade 2000
ch: USDA 6
so: your local Monrovia Nur. vendor

Abelia parvifolia - click image
JC Raulston Arboretum. Summer 2004.

Abelia parvifolia

'Bumble Bee' - click image to enlarge

Abelia parvifolia 'Bumble Bee' (7/99)(A. schumannii 'Bumble Bee', A. longituba 'Bumble Bee')
ht: 3 ft. or perhaps taller
ft: long campanulate (bell-shaped) to tubular flowers
fc: light lavender-pink
or: Europe
ch: USDA 7?
so: Spring Meadow

Abelia 'Prostrate White' = A. x grandiflora 'Prostrate White'

Abelia serrata var. buchwaldii (Graeb.) Nakai
fd: corolla to 3cm long

Abelia serrata f. sanguinea Sugimoto
fc: corolla pink

Abelia schummanii 'Saxon Gold'
in: Stone Cross Garden Centre, Sussex, UK 2003 and listed in the 2003-4 RHS PLANT FINDER for the first time
ns: probably as cultivar of A. parvifolia

Abelia spathulata f. colorata (Hara & Kurosawa) Hara
fc: corolla rose-red

Abelia spathulata var. sanguinea Makino
fc: corolla red, showy
geo: Kanto and Chubu, central Honshu, Japan

Abelia spathulata [white mottled]
lc: mottled white
li: Yokoi, M. and Y. Hirose. 1978. Variegated Plants. Siebundo Shinkosha Pub. Ltd.

Abelia spathulata [yellow margined]
lc: margined yellow
li: Yokoi, M. and Y. Hirose. 1978. Variegated Plants. Siebundo Shinkosha Pub. Ltd.

Abelia zanderi = A. dielsii