Has anyone here had any experience with this abelia. I have the Edward Goucher and it's a very tough and easy plant. I'd like to try this one, but I can't find it locally and will have to mail order. I haven't had a lot of luck with mail order plants other than daylilies, but if this is as tough as the old glossy abelias, I'll have a try with it. If anyone has a mature plant, I'd like to know how big it gets. I've seen statements of everything from 3' to 7' tall.
Also, what's your favorite viburnum for the Houston area. Looking for something that's doesn't get too huge, not over 6', and stands up to our heat and humidity.
Thanks for any input.
Abelia "Kaleidoscope" & Viburnum
Take a look at this:
http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=2945
Crow I planted one in my yard and it is doing fabulously. The 1st year it really looked bad, scragglie, etc but this, 2nd year, it looks great; tolerates heat well and water needs not high. Every rain we get produces a nice new flush of pink flowers. The Chile's (sp) on Hwy 6 in MC uses them as a hedge and trims them into stupid shapes- sort of defeats the purpose of the plant, and in my opinion is not the best use of this plant. Theirs do not do as well as mine. I love it and recommend them.
I got mine at Enchanted Garden or Forest- which ever in Richmond. If you call Buchanan's in the Heights or Another Place in Time in the Heights they may have them, or will get them for you. I hate to give them any free advertising, but have seen them regularly at Houston Garden Ctr. There are a couple of varieties and they come in white or pink.
These folks seem to have quite a number to chose from
http://www.lazyssfarm.com/Plants/Shrubs/A-Ch%20Shrubs/shrubs_trees_A-Ch.htm
This message was edited Jul 19, 2006 10:51 AM
April, thanks so much for the information. I called Cornelius yesterday and they said they don't stock them. I'll try the place in Richmond. Are you sure the one you bought was the Kaleidoscope cultivar? Are the leaves of yours variegared? In searching for it I found it could be mail ordered from Wayside Gardens, but their info said it only was commercially available starting this past January 2006.
The nurseries you named are some of my customers. We grow 'Little Richard' but I don't know if we grow 'Kaleidoscope'. I'll ck Friday if you would like me to. Maybe I could save you some $$ for some other 'I can't live without it' plant! lol :~)
Smockette, thanks a lot for the offer to check on Kaleidoscope for me. I would appreciate it immensely if you would let me know if you have any available. I emailed Cornelius and they say they "hope" to have it in the spring. I'd much rather plant in the fall so the roots can get established before our hellish summer hits. As to saving $$, that's always a nice bonus! My husband has joked that for the past 6 months, Cornelius has got to keep more of his money than he has. Redoing a whole yard does get expensive and I'm not sure that the joke wasn't accurate! Do you normally sell to the public, or just wholesale?