Zabelia Species, Fragrant Abelia, Glossy Abelia, Hardy Abelia

I think there is some confusion over this plant's origins. I've read on several websites that it is from Latvia. That would be major scie...Read Morentific news as Abelias aren't considered native to Europe. The plant is listed as native to Korea, which makes more sense. What I'm assuming happenned, is that the mother plant from which it came into cultivation in the US was growing in Latvia but it is native to Korea.

Also in North Georgia, zone 7A/B. My two-year-old trial plant took this cruel spring's summer temps followed by hard freeze in stride an...Read Mored currently, mid-April, is covered with clusters of little flowers. The sweet fragrance wafting across the garden has made me realize that just one is not nearly enough; I need a large clump of them. It's fairly drought-tolerant and nothing has bothered it so far. Appearance in and out of bloom is modest and unassuming, but it is a fabulous backdrop plant and my early irises and Chinese snowball are blooming at the same time...

The fragrance and flowers are every bit as good as Viburnum x juddii, but the form of this plant is just awful. The word "straggly" is to...Read Moreo kind. Fall color, however, is a pick-me-up in the fall.

Breeders should get to work to produce a compact, nicely formed cultivar of this species.

I have half a dozen of this Abelia species in full sun. Vigorous shoots grow from the base of the plant and are easily broken off by win...Read Mored. Easily propagated from June cuttings. Quite fragrant. Good fall color and fragrance may not be enough to make up for the graceless habit.

I have a small one that has made it through it's first New England winter . Last year it had one flower on it I can't wait to see what...Read More it does this year , at this point ( April 28th 2006) it looks great!
laura

This abelia is very fragrant! It is so easy to love and absolutely care-free for me. Our GA heat doesn't faze it at all. It does lose ...Read Morefoliage in winter but no die-back [so far].

A hardy 'Abelia' that was discoverd in the European Baltic State of Latvia ! Sumptuous fragrance, from rich pink flowers in May . Glossy ...Read Morefoliage holds this plant up in the summer. Knockout orange-red fall display. Rivals any lilac. Greyish white winter stems are even attractive. If you want to shape this plant trim after flower.