Abelia mosanensis

I was driving through southern Minnesota yesterday and ran across a small nursery run by an elderly couple. They were so sweet and kind I couldn't possibly leave without purchasing something. I've never seen this shrub before, but decided it was worth a try after listening to them rave about its fragrance, which supposedly rivals lilac. Reading comments made by Decumbent on DG a few years back, he rated it neutral and said it can be leggy and and unkempt. The site I'm considering is at the edge of an open woodland, and definitely on the shady side, getting about 4-6 hours of filtered sun. Can anyone shed some much needed light on this shrub?

I can, but not till I get home from work.

I hope your baited breath doesn't hit on anything till I'm ready to reel you in...

please, shed some light on this shrubject..

Long drive home?

Abelia mosanensis (Hardy Abelia, Korean Abelia - http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/77963/) is one tough cookie that smells divine. If anything can take on a bevy of bounteous fragrant Viburnums and match them sniff for sniff, it's this shrub.

I acquired mine from a friend in common with Pseudo (hint: lives just west of Chicago; has lots of Viburnums too) in 2005. It is a robust mature plant now, able to withstand the occasional sideswipe from the riding mower with aplomb. It will never match the charm and perfection of a Viburnum (what can?) but it will take on a Wisconsin winter, shrug it right off, and then knock your nose off with fragrant blooms that will wake you up at night.

Fall color is right dandy, too - I'd put it right up there with the reds/burgundies/oranges of Crapemyrtle.

Since VV neglected to addess the light requirements, I can only quote Mobot which states it requires 'full sun to part shade'. I have Edward Goucher (about which Mobot states the same light requirement) which blooms OK in similar light situation you describe for your plant - probably would bloom a lot better in full sun. Yours might need more sun to develop the nice fall color, too.

Thanks to the both of you for sharing your insight and experience. I admire a tough plant that has some qualities besides...well, being tough. I'm going to plant it where it will get about six hours of full sun and perfume a screened gazebo I eventually hope to build. I can see it now: I'm sitting in the gazebo on a starlit night sipping Kentucky's finest as fragrant abelia fills my nostrils. Let's see, what am I missing? Oh yeah, fireflies illuminate the woods while a Great Horned owl makes itself known. My spouse rubs my feet, which are sore from a full day planting, and tells me about all the places we will see. I'm really starting to like this plant. :)

BTW, VV, I also picked up a V. nudum 'Winterthur' on this trip. It will be interesting to see how this one does. I may have to drive to Kentucky to get a pollinator...

Only thing missing is that said spouse was hand-feeding you VVFC truffles just prior to starting the foot rub. Nice pairing with that other KY finest...

Driving to KY might just be too much for you - how much joy can you stand in one lifetime?