Shrub
Glossy Abelia
Abelia x grandiflora · Caprifoliaceae (Linnaeaceae)
Also called: Abelia, Glossy Abelia
Glossy Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) is a moderate-water shrub well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun to partial shade, with a moderate to fast growth rate.
Glossy Abelia at a glance
- Water use
- Moderate (established)
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade; in Tucson's low desert, afternoon shade or filtered light reduces leaf scorch and keeps foliage attractive. Tolerates more sun with adequate water.
- Mature size
- 3-6 ft tall and 3-6 ft wide (dwarf cultivars stay smaller)
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast
- Bloom
- White to pale pink, tubular flowers with reddish-bronze persistent sepals, Late spring through fall (long bloom, roughly May-October)
- Cold hardiness
- Cold-hardy to about 0-10°F (USDA 6-9); semi-evergreen in Tucson, may drop some foliage or bronze up in hard frost but recovers reliably.
- Soil
- Prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil; tolerates a range of soils but benefits from organic amendment and mulch in Tucson's alkaline clay.
- Native range
- Hybrid of garden origin (A. chinensis x A. uniflora); parent species native to China.
- Best used as
- Flowering hedge or screen, Mixed shrub border, Pollinator/butterfly garden, Foundation planting, Informal mass planting
- Wildlife
- Excellent nectar source; attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds throughout its long bloom season.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic; considered safe around pets and children.
How to grow Glossy Abelia in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Deep, regular irrigation; about every 4-7 days in summer and every 10-14 days in cooler months, watering to 1-2 ft depth. Mulch to conserve moisture and keep roots cool.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Feed with a balanced or acidifying fertilizer in early spring; light supplemental feeding in summer supports continuous bloom. Apply chelated iron and soil sulfur as needed to counter chlorosis in alkaline desert soil.
Pruning & care
Blooms on new wood; prune in late winter/early spring to shape and renew. Selectively thin older canes rather than shearing to preserve its arching, graceful form; can be cut back hard to rejuvenate.
Notes
One of the more reliable flowering broadleaf shrubs for the low desert when given afternoon protection and regular water. Plant in fall or spring. Foliage often takes on bronze/purplish tints in cool weather. Low pest problems.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; AMWUA Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; Pima County Master Gardeners