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Linnaea x grandiflora is often confused with:
Linnaea amabilis Kolkwitzia amabilis
Linnaea x grandiflora 'Edward Goucher' Abelia x grandiflora 'Edward Goucher'
Linnaea x grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope' PP #16988 Linnaea x grandiflora ‘Kaleidoscope’ PP #16988
Linnaea x grandiflora 'Prostrata'
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Monarda didyma plant with Lantana camara 'Miss Huff' in summer in Moore County
Verbena canadensis Verbena canadensis
Petunia x hybrida Petunia x hybrida

Linnaea x grandiflora

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Abelia rupestris var. grandiflora
  • Abelia x grandiflora
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
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#gold#fragrant#hummingbirds#red#white#evergreen#pink#sun#fall color#partial shade#bark#drought tolerant#lavender#green#easy to grow#wildlife plant#nectar plant#salt tolerant#fall interest#flowering#air pollution tolerant#cpp#glossy#pollinator plant
 
Linnaea × grandiflora
Linnaea × grandiflora blooms Leonora Enking CC-BY-SA 2.0
Linnaea × grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope'
Linnaea × grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope' Forest and Kim Starr CC BY 2.0
Linnaea × grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope'
Linnaea × grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope' foliage Forest and Kim Starr CC BY 2.0
Abelia x grandiflora
Persistent caylx James Gaither CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Abelia x grandiflora
Whole plant Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Abelia x grandiflora
Abelia x grandiflora bloom stalk Debbie Roos
Linnaea x grandiflora 'Mardi Gras' - full plant in bloom
Linnaea x grandiflora 'Mardi Gras' - full plant in bloom Jim Lawrence CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Leaf of 'Ruby Anniversary' in December
Leaf of 'Ruby Anniversary' in December K. Andre CC BY 2.0
Caylx and leaves 'Ruby Anniversary" in December
Caylx and leaves 'Ruby Anniversary" in December K. Andre CC BY 2.0
Abelia x grandiflora 'Mardi Gras' Form
Abelia x grandiflora 'Mardi Gras' Form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#gold#fragrant#hummingbirds#red#white#evergreen#pink#sun#fall color#partial shade#bark#drought tolerant#lavender#green#easy to grow#wildlife plant#nectar plant#salt tolerant#fall interest#flowering#air pollution tolerant#cpp#glossy#pollinator plant
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Dense
    Multi-stemmed
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Leaves:
    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.
  • Bark:
    Surface/Attachment:
    Exfoliating
    Peeling
  • 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
  • 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