Difference between revisions of "Abelia"
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| − | '''''Abelia''''' is a [[genus]] of about 15-30 [[species]] and many [[hybrid]]s in the honeysuckle family [[Caprifoliaceae]], in the part of that family split off by some authors in the [[segregate (taxonomy)|segregate]] family [[Linnaeaceae]]. The [[Angiosperm Phylogeny Group]] considers Linnaeaceae to encompass such genera as ''Linnaea'', ''Abelia'', ''Dipelta'', ''Kolkwitzia'', and ''Zabelia''. | + | '''''Abelia''''' is a [[genus]] of about 15-30 [[species]] and many [[hybrid]]s in the honeysuckle family [[Caprifoliaceae]], in the part of that family split off by some authors in the [[segregate (taxonomy)|segregate]] family [[Linnaeaceae]]. The [[Angiosperm Phylogeny Group]] considers Linnaeaceae to encompass such genera as ''Linnaea'', ''Abelia'', ''Dipelta'', ''Kolkwitzia'', and ''Zabelia''. Named after Dr Clarke Abel, a British physician and plant collector. |
Abelias are [[shrub]]s from 1-6 m tall, native to eastern [[Asia]] ([[Japan]] west to the [[Himalaya]]) and southern [[North America]] ([[Mexico]]); the species from warm climates are [[evergreen]], and colder climate species [[deciduous]]. The [[leaf|leaves]] are opposite or in whorls of three, ovate, glossy, dark green, 1.5-8 cm long, turning purplish-bronze to red in autumn in the deciduous species. The [[flower]]s appear in the upper leaf axils and stem ends, 1-8 together in a short [[cyme]]; they are pendulous, white to pink, bell-shaped with a five-lobed corolla, 1-5 cm long, and usually scented. Flowering continues over a long and continuous late spring to fall period. | Abelias are [[shrub]]s from 1-6 m tall, native to eastern [[Asia]] ([[Japan]] west to the [[Himalaya]]) and southern [[North America]] ([[Mexico]]); the species from warm climates are [[evergreen]], and colder climate species [[deciduous]]. The [[leaf|leaves]] are opposite or in whorls of three, ovate, glossy, dark green, 1.5-8 cm long, turning purplish-bronze to red in autumn in the deciduous species. The [[flower]]s appear in the upper leaf axils and stem ends, 1-8 together in a short [[cyme]]; they are pendulous, white to pink, bell-shaped with a five-lobed corolla, 1-5 cm long, and usually scented. Flowering continues over a long and continuous late spring to fall period. | ||
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*''Abelia aitchinsonii'' | *''Abelia aitchinsonii'' | ||
| − | *''Abelia biflora '' - (China) | + | *''[[Abelia biflora]] '' - (China) |
*''Abelia buddleioides '' - (China) | *''Abelia buddleioides '' - (China) | ||
| − | *''Abelia chinensis '' - (China) | + | *''[[Abelia chinensis]] '' - (China) |
*''Abelia coriacea'' - (Mexico) | *''Abelia coriacea'' - (Mexico) | ||
*''Abelia corymbosa'' - (Central Asia) | *''Abelia corymbosa'' - (Central Asia) | ||
*''Abelia curviflora '' - (Japan) | *''Abelia curviflora '' - (Japan) | ||
| + | *''Abelia davidii'' | ||
*''Abelia dielsii '' - (China) | *''Abelia dielsii '' - (China) | ||
| − | *''Abelia engleriana'' - (Sichuan, China) | + | *''[[Abelia Edward Goucher]]'' |
| + | *''[[Abelia engleriana]]'' - (Sichuan, China) | ||
*''Abelia fargesii'' - (Japan) | *''Abelia fargesii'' - (Japan) | ||
| − | *''Abelia floribunda'' - Mexican Abelia (Mexico) | + | *''[[Abelia floribunda]]'' - Mexican Abelia (Mexico) |
*''Abelia forrestii'' - (China) | *''Abelia forrestii'' - (China) | ||
| + | *''[[Abelia grandiflora]]'' | ||
*''Abelia integrifolia '' - (Japan) | *''Abelia integrifolia '' - (Japan) | ||
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*''Abelia occidentalis'' - (Mexico) | *''Abelia occidentalis'' - (Mexico) | ||
*''Abelia parvifolia '' - (China) | *''Abelia parvifolia '' - (China) | ||
| + | *''[[Abelia schumannii]]'' - (China) | ||
*''Abelia serrata'' - (Japan) | *''Abelia serrata'' - (Japan) | ||
| + | *''[[Abelia shikokiana]]]'' | ||
*''Abelia spathulata'' - (Japan) | *''Abelia spathulata'' - (Japan) | ||
*''Abelia speciosa'' - (Mexico) | *''Abelia speciosa'' - (Mexico) | ||
*''Abelia tomentosa'' - (Japan) | *''Abelia tomentosa'' - (Japan) | ||
*''Abelia taihyonii '' - (Korea) | *''Abelia taihyonii '' - (Korea) | ||
| − | *''Abelia triflora'' - (Himalaya) | + | *''[[Abelia triflora]]'' - (Himalaya) |
*''Abelia umbellata'' - (Sichuan, China) | *''Abelia umbellata'' - (Sichuan, China) | ||
|} | |} | ||
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*''[[Abelia x grandiflora]]'' Hort. ex. Bailey | *''[[Abelia x grandiflora]]'' Hort. ex. Bailey | ||
| − | ===Cultivation | + | ===Cultivation=== |
Abelias are popular [[garden]] shrubs. The most widely grown is the hybrid ''[[Abelia x grandiflora]]'' (Glossy Abelia; hybrid ''Abelia chinensis'' x ''Abelia uniflora''). This is a rounded, spreading, multi-stemmed shrub with gracefully arching branches to 1-1.8 m tall, with ovate, glossy, dark green semi-evergreen leaves to 2-6 cm long, and clusters of white-tinged-pink, bell-shaped flowers to 2 cm long. | Abelias are popular [[garden]] shrubs. The most widely grown is the hybrid ''[[Abelia x grandiflora]]'' (Glossy Abelia; hybrid ''Abelia chinensis'' x ''Abelia uniflora''). This is a rounded, spreading, multi-stemmed shrub with gracefully arching branches to 1-1.8 m tall, with ovate, glossy, dark green semi-evergreen leaves to 2-6 cm long, and clusters of white-tinged-pink, bell-shaped flowers to 2 cm long. | ||
| + | Plant in well-drained, moderately fertile soil, in a sun. Moderate frost hardiness, prune in winter, removing some of the basal shoots to make room for new growth, plus the cane ends. Take care to preserve the plant's naturally arching habit. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Propagation=== | ||
| + | Soft-tip cuttings in spring to summer, or half-hardened cuttings in late autumn to winter. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Uses=== | ||
''Abelia'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species - see [[list of Lepidoptera which feed on Abelia]]. | ''Abelia'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species - see [[list of Lepidoptera which feed on Abelia]]. | ||
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[[Category:Caprifoliaceae]] | [[Category:Caprifoliaceae]] | ||
[[Category:Holarctic flora]] | [[Category:Holarctic flora]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Scented]] | ||
Revision as of 13:14, 10 August 2007
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 Glossy Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) | ||||||||||||
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Abelia is a genus of about 15-30 species and many hybrids in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae, in the part of that family split off by some authors in the segregate family Linnaeaceae. The Angiosperm Phylogeny Group considers Linnaeaceae to encompass such genera as Linnaea, Abelia, Dipelta, Kolkwitzia, and Zabelia. Named after Dr Clarke Abel, a British physician and plant collector.
Abelias are shrubs from 1-6 m tall, native to eastern Asia (Japan west to the Himalaya) and southern North America (Mexico); the species from warm climates are evergreen, and colder climate species deciduous. The leaves are opposite or in whorls of three, ovate, glossy, dark green, 1.5-8 cm long, turning purplish-bronze to red in autumn in the deciduous species. The flowers appear in the upper leaf axils and stem ends, 1-8 together in a short cyme; they are pendulous, white to pink, bell-shaped with a five-lobed corolla, 1-5 cm long, and usually scented. Flowering continues over a long and continuous late spring to fall period.
- Selected species
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- Hybrids
- Abelia x grandiflora Hort. ex. Bailey
Cultivation
Abelias are popular garden shrubs. The most widely grown is the hybrid Abelia x grandiflora (Glossy Abelia; hybrid Abelia chinensis x Abelia uniflora). This is a rounded, spreading, multi-stemmed shrub with gracefully arching branches to 1-1.8 m tall, with ovate, glossy, dark green semi-evergreen leaves to 2-6 cm long, and clusters of white-tinged-pink, bell-shaped flowers to 2 cm long.
Plant in well-drained, moderately fertile soil, in a sun. Moderate frost hardiness, prune in winter, removing some of the basal shoots to make room for new growth, plus the cane ends. Take care to preserve the plant's naturally arching habit.
Propagation
Soft-tip cuttings in spring to summer, or half-hardened cuttings in late autumn to winter.
Uses
Abelia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species - see list of Lepidoptera which feed on Abelia.
References and external links
- Barnes, P. 2001. Looking at Abelias. New Plantsman 8(2): 78-92 (clarification of nomenclature, history, and cultivars with an excellent key and photographs).
- Flora of China: Abeila species list
- Germplasm Resources Information Network: Abeila
- Mexican Abelia
- Abelia page
- Two new species of Abelia
