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
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Glossy Abelia is an evergreen to semi-evergreen small shrub in the Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle) family. The plant’s name is derived from Carolus Linnaeus, the New Latin form of Carl von Linne, a Swedish botanist (1778).
It is hardy, drought and erosion tolerant, and easy-to-grow. Depending on the cultivar, it can grow to 2 to 6 feet tall with a similar spread. It flowers on new growth from late spring into fall and early winter and has a persistent ornamental calyx that is reddish-bronze and lasts for months. The new growth and fall foliage are also reddish-bronze. Gold-leaved and variegated varieties are available. To prevent legginess, prune back as needed in late winter before new growth appears.
Glossy Abelia is versatile as an accent, border, hedge, privacy screen, or mass planting. Use it in the lawn, on a slope, or in a pollinator garden. They are resistant to deer and attract butterflies. Also resistant to Phytophthora root rot.
Quick ID Hints:
- Reddish new growth has three to four leaves per node.
- Opposite leaves have reticulate venation.
- Bell-shaped, white flowers have a persistent reddish calyx
- Small shrub with exfoliating bark.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Foundation Planting- West Side of House
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- '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. - 8 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
- Maintenance:
- Low
- 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 that 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
- Bark Description:
- Exfoliating bark
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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:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Erosion
- Pollution
- Salt
- Urban Conditions
