ABELIA GRANDIFLORA: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, CULTIVATION, CARE - BIOLOGY - 2024

Abelia × grandiflora is a hybrid obtained by crossing the species Abelia chinensis and Abelia uniflora, cultivated as an ornamental in America, Africa and Europe. It is a medium-sized shrub with semi-deciduous leaves and striking persistent flowers that belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family.

It is a bushy plant with a robust appearance and arched branches, with oval, glossy green leaves and dense foliage. Its pinkish-white tubular flowers arranged in axillary or terminal inflorescences are characterized by their long flowering period.

Abelia grandiflora. Source: NicolasDuval15

Abelia is grown as a hedge or ornamental shrub in landscaping because of its attractive, aromatic, and persistent inflorescences. It is a fast growing plant that requires continuous maintenance and frequent pruning after each cycle, in order to promote its growth and increase flowering.

It can be grown in association with other ornamental species, in isolation, forming hedges and even in pots. It is an undemanding plant to the quality of the soil, however, it prefers limestone, fertile and well-drained soils.

General characteristics

Appearance

A densely branched shrubby plant that is between 1 and 3 m tall. The internal branches of reddish tones and slightly pubescent are robust and firm, the external ones are thin, curved and pendulous.

Leaves

The simple, oval and petiolate leaves have a sharp apex and slightly serrated margins, a glossy dark green upper surface and a lighter underside. They are arranged alternately along the ramifications, organized in whorls of 3-5 leaflets 2-6 cm long.

Under low temperature conditions, the dark green foliage takes on a reddish and leathery appearance. In addition, depending on the climatic conditions, it can behave like an evergreen or deciduous shrub.

flowers

The fragrant pinkish-white flowers with purplish spots are grouped in terminal or axillary inflorescences, forming cymes of 1-3 units. The calyx is made up of 2-5 sepals of orange tones, persistent even after flowering is complete.

The pubescent tubular corolla is 1-2 cm long, being crowned by 5 lobar petals, 4 didynamos stamens and an inferior ovary. The abelia is characterized by its long flowering period, from the beginning of spring until well into autumn.

Inflorescence of Abelia grandiflora. Source: Wouter Hagens

Fruit

The fruit is an elongated achene, cylindrical or conical, 8-10 mm long, slightly tomentose or glabrescent. In general, the sepals of the calyx remain persistent.

Taxonomy

- Kingdom: Plantae

- Division: Magnoliophyta

- Class: Magnoliopsida

- Order: Dipsacales

- Family: Caprifoliaceae

- Subfamily: Linnaeoideae

- Tribe: Linnaeeae

- Gender: Abelia

- Species: Abelia × grandiflora (Rovelli ex André) Rehder, 1900.

Etymology

- Abelia: the name of the genus was given to the English physician and naturalist Clarke Abel, who described and introduced the first species of this genus in Europe.

- grandiflora: the specific adjective is related to the size of the flowers. This species develops the largest flower of the genus.

Synonymy

- Abelia rupestris f. grandiflora Rovelli ex André.

- Abelia rupestris var. Grandiflora Rovelli ex André.

Variegated cultivar of Abelia grandiflora. Source: Photo by David J. Stang

Cultivars

- Confetti: cream colored variegated foliage plants, light areas turn reddish in cold weather.

- Edward Goucher: hybrid between Abelia × grandiflora and Abelia schumannii, with abundant pink-lavender flowers and striking red calyces, it reaches 1.5-2.5 m in height.

- Francis Mason: the bright green foliage turns bright yellow with age, while the flowers are light pink. Reaches 100-120 cm in height.

- Prostrate White: plant with a prostrate growth habit that is used as a cover for parks and gardens, white flowers.

- Sherwoodii: dwarf cultivar, with smaller leaves and flowers than usual, reaching 80-100 cm in height.

Habitat and distribution

The hybrid Abelia × grandiflora comes from the cross of the species Abelia chinensis and Abellia uniflora, both originating in China. However, the largest commercial production as an ornamental plant takes place in temperate regions of America, Africa and Europe.

Abelia is a perennial shrub that thrives under evergreen or partially deciduous conditions, depending on environmental conditions. It grows in full sun exposure, but supports partial shade, the density of the foliage decreases with shading and low temperatures.

It adapts to soils of medium or coarse texture, requires well-drained and fertile soils, and is not very tolerant of salinity. It is a plant susceptible to occasional frosts, in its juvenile phase it requires frequent waterings, but once established it tolerates moderate water deficits.

Detail of the flowers Abelia grandiflora. Source: Juni from Kyoto, Japan

Culture

Spread

Commercial propagation of the hybrid Abelia × grandiflora is by semi-woody cuttings during the summer or by division during the spring. The cuttings are selected from terminal branches, free of physical damage, pests or diseases, trying to make the cut in the fifth internode.

It is convenient to remove the leaves from the cutting, leaving only the terminal leaflets. Next, the end that goes into the substrate is impregnated with some type of rooting phytohormone, either natural or synthetic.

Cuttings are placed in rooting beds using a mixture of black soil, sand, and composted plant material or compost. In order to guarantee rooting, it is recommended to keep the substrate moist and mist the environment continuously.

Requirements

The cultivation of abelia requires loamy, porous, permeable soils with a high content of organic matter. It is a crop that adapts to temperate climates with high light radiation and protected from strong winds.

Its development adapts to different degrees of sun exposure, although it is advisable to place it in full sun exposure, especially in temperate climates, to ensure greater flowering. In regions with a warm climate, it is convenient to locate in places with partial shade, but well lit.

Abelia grandiflora plant grown as an ornamental. Source: Digigalos

Care

- Its cultivation requires full sun exposure to maintain constant development and abundant flowering. In half shade it develops in good conditions, but the flowering shows a lower yield.

- It requires a permeable and fertile soil, with frequent applications of organic compost or humus during spring and autumn.

- Watering should be abundant during the summer and limited during the spring and fall. Despite being a drought tolerant crop, it requires sufficient moisture during the flowering season.

- Frequent maintenance pruning is recommended to promote flowering. As it is a plant that grows as a hedge, it is advisable to carry out a severe pruning during winter or early spring.

- Abelia is very susceptible to occasional frosts. In this case it is necessary to protect it when the temperature drops below 10 ºC.

Diseases

Abelia is a rustic plant that, under suitable edaphoclimatic conditions, supports the attack of pests and diseases. However, under adverse conditions the foliage can be infected by powdery mildew or attacked by mealybugs, mites or aphids.

References

1. Abelia × Grandiflora (Glossy Abelia) (2017) Botany Today. Recovered at: botanytoday.com
2. Abelia × grandiflora. (2019). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org
3. Gilman, EF, Klein, RW & Hansen, G. (2017) Abelia x grandiflora: Glossy Abelia. UF / IFAS Extension. University of Florida.
4. Villarreal-Quintanilla, J. Á., Estrada-Castillón, AE, Villaseñor-Ríos, JL, & De La Rosa-Ibarra, M. (2014). Morphology of the species of Abelia section Vesalea (Caprifoliaceae). Acta botánica mexicana, (107), 67-97.
5. Villaverde, J, (2017) Abelia Grandiflora. Online nursery - Plants online: Viforsa. Recovered in: viforsa.es