Absolutely Abelia!

Long-living shrubs that manage to maintain the look of their pretty foliage in all seasons are a strong framework against which seasonal plants can play their temporary roles in a well-planned garden. Modern abelia hybrids are part of the stalwart list to plant.

- By Anna Celliers

In places where the climate could be a challenge, like with cold winters or drying out coastal winds in summer, we can always rely on the good old glossy abelia, Abelia x grandiflora. But it is a large plant that grows into a sprawling size of 2 x 1.5m if left unchecked. Small gardens just can't accommodate such large shrubs, especially if you would like a bit of variety along with dense and more manageable sizes. Luckily the clever hybridisers have taken all the best attributes of the old glossy abelia and developed more compact varieties with interesting foliage colours, which intensify in the winter months when the plants are not in flower.

5 of the best...

'Francis Mason' (golden abelia) has leaves that sometimes turn completely gold, and can also be speckled in yellow and green. In cold weather the colour intensifies to bronze. The slender stems clothed in their multi-coloured leaves last well in a vase and are loved by floral artists. Masses of pale-pink to white trumpet-shaped flowers appear in summer.

'Kaleidoscope' is a dwarf hybrid (70 x 90cm) with ever-changing foliage. New growth in spring is edged in bright yellow with light green centres. Summer shades are a rich old gold and dark green. In autumn it changes to orange, and winter brings a fiery red.