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ABELIA x grandiflora 'Compacta'

Image of Abelia x grandiflora 'Compacta'

Jessie Keith

Family

Caprifoliaceae

Botanical Name

ABELIA x grandiflora 'Compacta'

Plant Common Name

Compact Glossy Abelia, Glossy Abelia

General Description

This compact form of the popular glossy abelia is vigorous and ideal for smaller garden spaces. It is also tough, tolerant of urban conditions, and attracts loads of bees and butterflies while in bloom.

Glossy abelia is a dense, rounded shrub with arching branches. It is primarily grown for its masses of long-lasting flowers, pleasing habit and glossy foliage. This hybrid of Abelia chinensis and Abelia uniflora is evergreen in warmer climates and semi-evergreen in its northernmost hardiness zones where winters are cold.

Its small, ovate leaves are glossy and dark green. In cold weather, they become tinged with maroon or bronze. Small clusters of flowers cover the branches throughout the growing season but are heaviest in the first flush of the season. The small, fragrant, palest pink to ivory blooms are subtended by persistent, rosy pink, five-parted calyces that keep looking attractive after the flowers fade and fall.

Abelia prefers sites with full to partial sun and acid to neutral, well-drained soil. It is surprisingly drought tolerant, especially when planted in partial sun, and takes well to pruning, though it has a beautiful natural habit. Compact abelias such as this are very popular landscape shrubs due to their neat appearance and manageable size. In the landscape, this selection is best planted along foundations or in mixed borders. Those living where deer reside should consider planting glossy abelia as it is moderately deer resistant.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    9 - 6

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    6 - 9

  • Sunset Zone

    H1, H2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Shrub

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun

  • Height

    2'-4' / 0.6m - 1.2m (3)

  • Width

    3'-4' / 0.9m - 1.2m (3)

  • Bloom Time

    Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall

  • Native To

    Hybrid Origin

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral

  • Soil Drainage

    Average

  • Soil type

    Clay, Loam, Sand

  • Tolerances

    Soil Compaction

  • Growth Rate

    Medium

  • Water Requirements

    Drought Tolerant, Average Water

  • Habit

    Cushion/Mound-forming

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    White, Light Pink

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Light Green, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Red, Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze

  • Bark Color

    Tan, Brown, Gray

  • Fragrant Flowers

    Yes

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    Yes

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    Yes

  • Foliage Texture

    Fine

  • Foliage Sheen

    Glossy

  • Evergreen

    Semi-Evergreen

  • Showy Bark

    Yes

Special Characteristics

  • Bark Texture

    Exfoliating

  • Usage

    Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Attracts

    Butterflies

  • Self-Sowing

    No