That being said, in zones further North where they will grow, some abelia varieties might be semi-deciduous, meaning they will lose some of their leaves during winter.Ībelias are exceptionally easy to grow!.and that's why our nursery's designers include them in every design they do and every landscape they install. Did I forget to mention that the foliage is evergreen? This means that abelias hold their foliage throughout the winter, many changing color as do nandinas. They are also exceptionally drought tolerant and require very little care or maintenance. Butterflies and hummingbirds love the flowers. In addition to the colorful foliage, Abelias produce an abundance of fragrant flowers that appear throughout summer into fall. Even though these older varieties have stood the test of time, and are still offered today by many nursery and garden centers, in recent times they have taken a back seat to many new cultivars that offer a kaleidoscope of bright and stunning foliage colors on dwarf shrubs that are more versatile in many of today's landscapes. All of these had green foliage and either pale lavender or white flowers.
When we opened our nursery in 1989 there were only 3 varieties of Abelia on the market: 'Glossy' (the original tall-growing variety) and two smaller versions: 'Edward Goucher' and 'Sherwoodi'. I am co-owner of a nursery and garden center located in north-central Georgia.