Shrub · North Texas care guide
Abelia × grandiflora
Nursery Pro tip: Blooms from May to frost and the bees never leave it. Kaleidoscope has colorful foliage.
A hard-working, almost-evergreen shrub that blooms white-to-pink from May until frost, drawing bees and hummingbirds the whole time. Arching and graceful in its full size; newer varieties like 'Kaleidoscope' (gold and lime, red in winter) and 'Rose Creek' stay 2–3 ft and are what most people plant now.
Full sun for the best color and bloom; part shade is fine but variegated types go green. Any soil that drains. Space 3–4 ft apart.
Spring or fall. Hole twice the pot width, ball at grade, native soil, Root Stimulator, mulch.
Weekly the first summer, then every couple of weeks. Quite drought tolerant once settled.
One spring feeding with a general shrub fertilizer is plenty.
Late winter. It blooms on new growth, so cutting back by a third in February gives more flowers, not fewer. Never shear it into a ball — thin out the oldest canes at the base instead and let it arch.
Almost nothing. It may drop some leaves in a hard winter and leaf back out in spring. Powdery mildew only in deep shade.
Pollinator beds and informal borders with autumn sage, lantana, coneflower and Gulf muhly. 'Kaleidoscope' makes a bright low edge in front of dark hollies.
Written for Rockwall's black clay, heat and winters by the Landscape Source team. Every yard is different — bring a photo by, or ask LS-Ai, and we'll tailor it to your spot.