The Abelia plant belongs to the family of honeysuckle, more than 30 species are known, including evergreen bushes or small trees. The motherland of a fast-growing shrub is considered Japan and China. And its name, by the way, the flower received in honor of the English Dr. Clark Abel, who worked in China in the XIX century. For all types of Abelia are characterized by short-petioled leaves and fragrant flowers in the form of a bell or funnel. Abelia is grown most often in greenhouses or large rooms, and in a natural environment the plant can reach a height of 4 meters.
Abelia large-flowered
This species, obtained as a result of crossing the one-flowered and Chinese species, is most popular. This shrub is considered semi-evergreen and grows to almost 2 meters. In conditions of room keeping, such an abelia does not particularly grow, and the young plant is distinguished by the pink color of shoots. An adult abelia can have shoots more than a meter long, with trimmed small leaves, located on the branches opposite each other. Large flowers appear on the inflorescence of the brush, which comes out of the axils of the leaves. Flowers of this species have five petals, are painted white, do not fade for a long time and smell pleasantly.
Abelia Chinese
This decorative shrub has received the name from the country considered as its native land. In China, there were bushes, the height of which reached 2 meters. The plant has leaves of dark green oval shape, slightly pointed. Flowers appear on drooping shoots, they are collected in inflorescences, tube-shaped, white, exude a delicate aroma. This shrub blossoms from the beginning of summer almost to the end of autumn, and after the flowers fall, the ornamentation of the bush is preserved thanks to the red cups and the acquisition of leaves of a special bronze hue.
Abelia the Korean
This species is a lush decorative shrub that reaches a height of 1.5 meters or more. Egg-shaped leaves of the plant are often serrate or crenate along the edge. Flowers appearing in the leaf axle are not very attractive, they are small and inexpressive, but they are incredibly pleasant. As a rule, this kind of abelia is planted on the street near gazebos or other places of rest precisely because of the magnificent aroma, long flowering and the stability of the bush to Russian winters. Cold-resistant abelia, imported to Russia from the Far East, perfectly hibernates even in the middle zone of the country.
Abelia: Care and Reproduction
For a favorable growth of a bush, a sufficient amount of scattered light is necessary, abundant watering in the spring-autumn interval, and in the winter time - control of soil moisture. To feed Abelia it is possible at any time of the year, except in winter, a bush enough portions of organic or mineral fertilizers once every two weeks. Cultivation of shrubs involves pruning
Propagation can be seeded by seeds, for this it is necessary to sow them in January in an easy substrate. Also, the bush perfectly reproduces by cuttings obtained as a result of pruning. A young plant not only grows rapidly and during the year it forms in a small, neat bush, but, perhaps, for the first time it will blossom.
The popularity of Abelia is explained by the ease of keeping, the ease of reproduction, the beauty of flowering and the incredibly pleasant aroma of flowers.