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
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AHS Heat Zone
9 - 6
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USDA Hardiness Zone
6 - 9
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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
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Plant Type
Shrub
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
2'-4' / 0.6m - 1.2m (3)
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Width
3'-4' / 0.9m - 1.2m (3)
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Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
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Native To
Hybrid Origin
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Average
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Soil Compaction
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White, Light Pink
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Light Green, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Red, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
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Bark Color
Tan, Brown, Gray
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
Yes
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Fine
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
Semi-Evergreen
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Showy Bark
Yes
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Exfoliating
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Usage
Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Attracts
Butterflies
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Self-Sowing
No