If you’re looking to add beauty, versatility, and low-maintenance charm to your garden, Abelia is a fantastic choice. Abelia varieties are known for their graceful arching branches, fragrant blooms, and long-lasting foliage, making them quite popular among gardeners and landscapers. These hardy shrubs come in various sizes, colors, and growth habits, making them perfect for hedges, borders, containers, or standalone focal points.
Whether you’re drawn to their delicate flowers, vibrant foliage, or ability to attract pollinators, there will be an Abelia variety to suit every garden style.
In this guide, we’ll explore over 10 stunning Abelia varieties that can transform your outdoor space into a year-round haven of color and texture. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Top 10+ Abelia Varieties to Enrich Your Garden
In this part, we’ll introduce the most popular Abelia variety in 2025.
Abelia x grandiflora
Abelia x grandiflora is the longest-blooming Abelia variety. Commonly known as Glossy Abelia, it’s a hybrid shrub resulting from a cross between Abelia chinensis and Abelia uniflora. This Abelia variety is a medium-sized, rounded, semi-evergreen shrub with gracefully arching branches, densely clothed with small glossy oval, dark green leaves and clusters of pink-tinged, white, bell-shaped flowers. The flowers are slightly fragrant and bloom continuously from late spring to fall. The foliage turns purplish-bronze in the fall, adding to its ornamental value. Glossy Abelia can grow up to 3-6 ft. tall and wide (90-180 cm).
Abelia Varieties - Grandiflora
It prefers full sun or part shade and well-drained soil and is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9. This plant is low maintenance, pest- and disease-free, and deer-resistant. It is versatile and can be used as a specimen plant, in small groupings, as an informal hedge, in shrub borders, or wall-side borders
Abelia 'Edward Goucher'
Abelia 'Edward Goucher' is a beautiful hybrid between Abelia x grandiflora and Abelia schumannii, introduced in 1911 by Edward Goucher. This semi-evergreen shrub features abundant lavender-pink flowers with showy red calyces that bloom continuously from mid-summer through fall.
Abelia Varieties - Edward Goucher
As the most shade-tolerant Abelia variety, it has a vase-shaped, upright growth habit, reaching 6 to 8 feet in height and spread. The plant's foliage is glossy with a bronze tinge that fades over time, adding to its ornamental appeal. It thrives in USDA hardiness zones 6 to 9, preferring full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil. Abelia 'Edward Goucher' is visually stunning but also low-maintenance and pest-resistant.
Abelia ‘Kaleidoscope’
Abelia ‘Kaleidoscope’ is a stunning variety of Abelia grandiflora, known for its vibrant and ever-changing foliage. This semi-evergreen shrub features variegated leaves that shift from bright yellow and lime-green in spring to golden yellow in summer, and finally to fiery orange and red in fall. It blooms from late spring to fall with fragrant, white, tubular flowers that attract pollinators.
Abelia Varieties - Kaleidoscope
Growing 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide, Abelia ‘Kaleidoscope’ is the lowest growing Abelia variety. This type has a compact, mounding habit, making it ideal for small gardens, borders, or containers. Hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9, it thrives in full sun to part shade and well-drained soil. As a low-maintenance and deer-resistant plant, it adds interest to your garden all year round. Additionally, Kaleidoscope Abelia pairs well with a variety of plants such as Blue Fescue, Miscanthus, Salvia, Spirea, Sedum, and Marigolds.
Abelia 'Confetti'
Abelia 'Confetti' is like a variegated beauty. The main difference between Confetti and Kaleidoscope Abelia lies in their foliage and growth habits. Confetti Abelia features a more compact form with variegated leaves that display a mix of green, cream, and pink, creating a vibrant, colorful appearance. In contrast, Kaleidoscope Abelia has larger, bright yellow and green variegated leaves that turn orange and red in the fall.
Abelia Varieties - Confetti
Abelia 'Confetti' variety grows up to about 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide, forming a mound of colorful foliage. From mid-summer to fall, it produces slightly fragrant, pale pink flowers that attract pollinators like bees. Abelia 'Confetti' thrives in USDA zones 6 to 9, preferring full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant once established and can be used as a ground cover, in containers, or as a low hedge.
Abelia 'Sherwoodii'
Abelia 'Sherwoodii' is a compact shrub that has a dense, mounding habit with dark green foliage and pale pink flowers. It can grow 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. It features small, glossy, dark green leaves that often turn purplish-bronze in autumn.
Abelia Varieties - Sherwoodii
From late spring to fall, it produces clusters of fragrant, bell-shaped, white flowers tinged with pale pink. This hybrid is more cold-hardy than some other Abelia varieties, suitable for USDA zones 5 to 9. It prefers full sun to part shade and well-drained soil and is relatively low-maintenance. Abelia 'Sherwoodii' can be used as a hedge, in shrub borders, or as a foundation plant.
Abelia 'Rose Creek'
Abelia 'Rose Creek' is a compact, evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub that belongs to the honeysuckle family. It typically grows 2-3 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide, making it ideal for small gardens, borders, and container plantings. This variety features crimson stems with new leaves that have a pinkish cast, maturing to a lustrous dark green in summer and turning purple in cold weather.
Abelia Varieties - Rose Creek
Clusters of fragrant white flowers with rosy pink sepals bloom from spring to fall, attracting pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds. It thrives in USDA zones 6 to 9, preferring full sun to partial shade and well-drained, fertile soil. Abelia 'Rose Creek' is low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and drought-tolerant once established. It can be used as a specimen plant, in mass plantings, or as an informal hedge.
Abelia 'Little Richard'
Abelia 'Little Richard' is a dwarf Abelia. This type is perfect for small spaces. It features small, white to pale pink flowers that attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Abelia Varieties - Little Richard
The new foliage is bright red, turning to a glossy vivid green in summer and tangerine-pink in fall. This variety grows to about 3 feet tall and wide, with a dense, mounding habit, making it ideal for borders, foundation plantings, or as a low hedge. It thrives in USDA zones 6 to 9, preferring full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Once established, it’s drought-tolerant and deer-resistant.
Abelia 'Radiance'
Abelia 'Radiance' is a stunning variety of the Abelia genus. It’s known for its striking variegated foliage and profusion of fragrant blooms. Typically, this compact shrub grows to about 2-3 feet tall and wide, which makes it perfect for borders, foundation plantings, or container gardens.
Abelia Varieties - Radiance
'Radiance' features glossy green leaves edged with creamy white, providing year-round visual interest, while its clusters of delicate, tubular white to light pink flowers bloom from summer into fall, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. Thriving in full sun to partial shade and hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9, Abelia 'Radiance' is an excellent choice for enhancing garden beauty with minimal maintenance.
Abelia 'Sunrise'
Abelia 'Sunrise' is a compact, evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub with a dense, mounded form and arching branches. It features glossy, variegated foliage with dark green leaves edged in creamy yellow, which turns gold, orange, and red in the fall.
Abelia Varieties - Sunrise
This variety blooms from early summer to early fall, producing clusters of lightly scented, white tubular flowers with pink overtones. It grows 3 to 5 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide, thriving in USDA zones 6a to 10a. Abelia 'Sunrise' prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained, fertile soil, and is drought, humidity, and salt tolerant. It is deer-resistant and attracts pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Suitable for borders, hedges, foundation plantings, and containers, it requires occasional maintenance and can be pruned in late winter.
Abelia 'Nana'
Abelia 'Nana' is a compact, evergreen shrub known for its glossy, deep green foliage and arching branches. This dwarf variety features bronze new growth that matures to a bright, glossy green. It produces a profusion of fragrant, white to pale pink, bell-shaped flowers from spring through to autumn.
Abelia Varieties - Nana
Growing 2-3 feet tall and wide, it thrives in USDA zones 6-9, preferring full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil. Abelia 'Nana' is suitable for borders, containers, and rockeries, and benefits from pruning after flowering to maintain its compact shape.
Abelia ‘Hopleys’
Abelia ‘Hopleys’ is a delightful variety of the Abelia genus, celebrated for its glossy evergreen foliage that shifts to a striking bronze in cooler weather. This compact shrub typically reaches 3-4 feet in height and width, making it ideal for borders or as an accent plant.
Abelia Varieties - Hopleys
During the summer, it produces clusters of fragrant, tubular flowers in white to pale pink, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. Thriving in full sun to partial shade and hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9, Abelia ‘Hopleys’ offers a beautiful, low-maintenance option for gardens and landscapes.
Abelia 'Twilight'
Abelia 'Twilight' is a captivating variety of Abelia. This semi-evergreen shrub features dark green leaves that are tinged with purple, creating a dramatic and eye-catching appearance. Abelia 'Twilight' thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil, similar to other Abelia varieties.
Abelia Varieties - Twilight
It is hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9, making it adaptable to a range of climates. The plant blooms from mid-summer to the first frost, producing clusters of fragrant, white to pale pink flowers that attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Abelia 'Canyon Creek'
Abelia 'Canyon Creek' is a compact, evergreen shrub with a tidy, mounded habit and arching branches. It features glossy dark green leaves that emerge with a coppery-pink tint in spring, mature to a yellow-green hue in summer, and turn a stunning bronze-rose color in fall.
Abelia Varieties - Canyon Creek
This variety blooms from mid-summer to the first frost, producing clusters of lightly fragrant, pinkish-white flowers that attract pollinators. Growing 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide, it thrives in USDA zones 6 to 9, preferring full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Abelia 'Canyon Creek' is drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and adaptable to various soil conditions. Thus, it’s an excellent choice for low-maintenance gardens.
Tips for Caring for an Abelia
Abelia is considered low maintenance. These shrubs are drought-tolerant once established. However, if you want to ensure its healthy growth and abundant blooms, you should also care for an Abelia variety.
Light Requirements
Abelia plants thrive in full sun to partial shade. They require at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for the best foliage color and blooming. If you can't give enough sunlight, you can grow them under an LED grow light. In areas with intense afternoon sun, some shade during the hottest part of the day can prevent leaf scorch.
Watering Frequency
During the first growing season, water Abelia deeply once or twice a week to help establish a strong root system. Once established, Abelia is somewhat drought-tolerant but still benefits from consistent moisture. If possible, you can use a self-watering system to keep it consistently moist. At the same time, you should also avoid waterlogged conditions to prevent root rot.
Soil Preferences
Abelia prefers well-draining soil rich in organic matter. It can tolerate a range of soil types, from sandy to clay, but loamy soil is ideal. The soil pH should be slightly acidic to neutral, around 6.0 to 7.0.
Temperature & Humidity
Abelia is hardy in USDA Zones 6 to 9. In colder regions, it may lose its leaves during harsh winters, but it will regrow in spring. Providing a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plant in winter can protect the roots from freezing.
Fertilizing
Apply a balanced, slow-release, high-nitrogen fertilizer in early spring and again in mid-summer to support healthy growth and blooming. Mulching with organic matter can also help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Pruning
Abelia requires little pruning due to its naturally graceful growth habit. Prune in late winter or early spring to remove dead or damaged branches and shape the plant. Deadheading spent flowers can encourage more blooms.
Conclusion
As spring is approaching, it’s time to incorporate Abelia varieties into your garden. Their low maintenance requirements and adaptability to various conditions make them ideal for both novice and experienced gardeners. With options like Kaleidoscope, Edward Goucher, and Little Richard, you can enjoy vibrant foliage and continuous blooms throughout the seasons.
