Linnaea x grandiflora
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Abelia rupestris var. grandiflora
- Abelia x grandiflora
- Phonetic Spelling
- LIN-ay-ee-uh gran-dih-FLOR-uh
- Description
-
Abelia is a hardy, drought and erosion tolerant, easy to grow shrub that is evergreen to semi-evergreen. Depending on the cultivar, they can grow 2 to 6 feet with a similar spread. It flowers on new growth from late spring into fall and early winter. It has a persistent ornamental calyx that is reddish-bronze and lasts for months. The new growth and fall foliage is reddish-bronze. To prevent legginess, prune back as needed in late winter before new growth appears.
Quick ID Hints:
- May be 3-4 leaves per node on reddish new growth
- Leaves have reticulate venation, are opposite
- Bell-shaped, white flowers; persistent reddish calyx
- Small shrub with exfoliating bark
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Foundation Planting- West Side of House
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Canyon Creek'
- 'Francis Mason'
- 'Little Richard'
- 'Mardis Gras'
- 'Radiance'
- 'Ruby Anniversery'
Reddish foliage spring and fall, white flowers - 'Silver Anniversary'
- 'Sunshine Daydream'
More compact 3'-5' with lavender-pink flowers
Compact habit, variegated leaves 'Kaleidoscope'
Wide range of color found on the foliage
Prostrate form
Purple-green leaves in winter
Variegated green-yellow and cream leaves - 'Canyon Creek'
- 'Canyon Creek', 'Edward Goucher', 'Francis Mason', 'Hopleys', 'Kaleidoscope', 'Little Richard', 'Mardis Gras', 'Prostrata', 'Radiance', 'Rose Creek', 'Ruby Anniversery', 'Silver Anniversary', 'Sunrise', 'Sunshine Daydream'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Canyon Creek'
- 'Francis Mason'
- 'Little Richard'
- 'Mardis Gras'
- 'Radiance'
- 'Ruby Anniversery'
Reddish foliage spring and fall, white flowers - 'Silver Anniversary'
- 'Sunshine Daydream'
More compact 3'-5' with lavender-pink flowers
Compact habit, variegated leaves 'Kaleidoscope'
Wide range of color found on the foliage
Prostrate form
Purple-green leaves in winter
Variegated green-yellow and cream leaves - 'Canyon Creek'
- 'Canyon Creek', 'Edward Goucher', 'Francis Mason', 'Hopleys', 'Kaleidoscope', 'Little Richard', 'Mardis Gras', 'Prostrata', 'Radiance', 'Rose Creek', 'Ruby Anniversery', 'Silver Anniversary', 'Sunrise', 'Sunshine Daydream'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Linnaea
- Family:
- Caprifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- This shrub is attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought, pollution, deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 6 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Leathery, one-seeded achene; non-ornamental. Hybrid of Abelia chinensis x Abelia uniflora
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small bell flowers appear in groups of 2-5 in cymes in the upper leaf axils and stem ends. Color ranges from whites to pinks depending on the cultivar. Persistent reddish calyces into winter.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Slippery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 3-4 leaves per node. Glossy leaves, emerge reddish and mature to dark green then turn bronze-green to bronze-red in winter. Reticulate venations; acute, cuneate to rounded base.
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Bark:
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Peeling
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Pubescent, reddish-brown young stems mature to exfoliating, splitting bark, revealing lighter inner bark
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Erosion
- Salt
- Urban Conditions
