On September 11th an article appeared in the Houston Chronicle touting the performance of a new Abelia, previously unknown to me until that morning. One of my co-workers brought the article in to show us and my immediate response was "We need to get these!" Because if we don't, we will have to face every serious gardener in the area asking, Do you have them?, When will you get them?, and Can you save me a few? Personally I wanted one too, so this was reason enough for me to make sure and ask if we could get them.
Well, we have them now. We did not get very many, and yes there is already a list of gardeners who have requested them. Here's all you need to know about them.
- Spring foliage has a light green center with bright yellow variegation along the outer edge. Summer foliage has a darker green center and a golden to creamy yellow outer edge.
- Fall foliage color is a combination of green, golden yellow, orange, and red.
- Flowers are white, slightly fragrant, produced in abundance from summer until fall, and attract butterflies.
- Brilliant red stems provide a unique contrast to the bright yellow foliage.
- Habit is neat, compact, mounded, and requires minimal maintenance.
- Excellent when used in small groupings, mass plantings, containers, or anywhere a splash of color is needed
Profile
Botanical Name: Abelia x grandiflora Kaleidoscope
Common Name: Abelia Kaleidoscope
Culture: Prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soil.
Water Requirements: Low. Once established, quite dry tolerant requiring only occasional long soak during extended periods of heat.
Exposure: Full sun to light shade. Foliage color and flowering is best when planted in full sun.
Average Size: Height ~ 2-3' (0.6-0.9 M) Width ~ 4-5' (1.2-1.5 M)
Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zone 6 (-10¼ F / -23¼ C) Evergreen in Zone 7
Seasonal Interests: Foliage - Year Round
