ABELIA 'Edward Goucher'

Description: Common name: Abelia. A small semi evergreen shrub of great value for late summer/autumn interest in the small garden. Dark green foliage with a profusion of mauve pink flowers in clusters during late summer which attract butterflies. Drought tolerant.

Climate/Position: Thrives in full sun but also suited to partial shade. Protect from cold winter winds

Height/Spread: Reaches 1.2 x 1.2 metre and so remaining smaller than many Abelia

Soil Requirements: Suitable for any soil type. Prefers moist, well- drained site but is tolerant of drought

Pruning: If pruning is required or to rejuvenate old plants and encourage flowering then cut out a number of the oldest twiggy shoots at ground level in spring. Tips of shoots may suffer die back in the coldest winters and therefore it may be desirable to trim these dead shoots back to growing points in late spring

Special Requirements: A sheltered site or wall protection is preferred in colder areas

Additional Interest: Often a confusion in naming. A. x grandiflora x schumannii. Hybridized by Edward Goucher in Maryland, USA in 1911. Abelia grandiflora is itself a hybrid of two Chinese species, A. chinensis pollinated by A. uniflora 'Edward Goucher' has a profusion of flowers as its parent A. x grandiflora with smaller habit and mauve flowers and its other parent A. schumannii.