This beautiful and graceful arching shrub, originally came from the upland areas of China, Japan and India (in the form of Abelia chinensis) and was introduced by British Physician Dr. Clark Abel. One of a number of hybrids, Abelia x grandiflora is a cross between Abelia chinensis and Abelia uniflora. Abelia x grandiflora Kaleidoscope is the result of futher breeding which has resulted in a lovely yellow variegated, compact plant. The leaves are a coppery colour when young and become tinged with orange and red in autumn. The leaves and the delightful flowers are accentuated by the red stems. It also has the distinct advantage of flowering late in the summer and well into autumn and occasionally winter. The dainty star shaped flower calyx remain on the plant for a long time. A plant that will enhance any garden or container. This plant can be used in a mixed planting or as a stand alone specimen in the garden or a container. If you are growing in a pot or other container. Use a good quality John Innes compost as this plant will be there a long time and peaty types of compost eventually degrade and become too packed and choke the roots. Ensure you feed regularly as a hungry plant is a poor performer. We recommend Osmoscote pro 12-14 month applied in the early spring. One application gives all the nutrients the plant requires for the whole year. John Innes is a soils based compost.
Pot size | 9 cm |
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Height ( fully grown ) | 0.5 - 1 m |
Spread | 1 - 1.5 m |
flowers | Many, white tinged pink, bell shaped in clusters |
Location | Sun or Semi Shade preferably in a sheltered location |
pruning | As required early spring when danger of hard frost has passed |
Key Feature | Glossy Abelia |
Hardines | H5 ( -15 to -10 C) |
Soil Type | Dry, Clay, Fertile, Loam |