BEAUTY that almost sank WITHOUT trace
A rare abelia destined for Britain was lost at sea 200 years ago – now these shrubs are one of our favourite summer stunners
ON February 18, 1817, HMS Alceste hit a reef in the Java Sea a few weeks after setting sail from China t o England. Fortunately, everyone on board escaped the sinking ship to a nearby island and a group was sent out on boats to organise a rescue. The castaways had to defend themselves against repeated attack by pirates, until they were saved 11 days later.
Among those left stranded was Clarke Abel, the ship’s botanist, who had spent months collecting rare plants in China. All of his samples were lost in the disaster, including a shrub with fragrant white flowers. Some 27 years later another sample found its way to our shores, where it was named Abelia chinensis in his honour.
Thank heaven gardeners don’t have to go to such lengths to find abelias these days. Close to 50 different ones are readily available in the UK, flowering non-stop from early summer until October. Plant an established one now to enjoy several weeks of colour before plants put down roots to deliver an even better display next year.
Abelias are native to eastern Asia and Mexico, where they grow in a range of habitats. Apart from the aforementioned Abelia chinensis, many more wild species arrived in Europe during the late 19th Century, providing plant-breeders with the genetic material to create lots of cracking varieties.
RANGING i n height from 2ft to 10ft, plants have flowers in shades of white, pink and yellow – these t e nd t o possess a delightful, honey-like scent. The blooms are held by pink calyces (a protective ring of leaf-like sepals) that often provide an attractive two- tone effect and continue to add a pop of colour long after the flowers drop.
A member of the caprifoliaceae plant family, abelias are closely related to several popular garden plants, including honeysuckles, leycesterias and weigelas. There are deciduous and evergreen types, although most are semi-evergreen – these will retain their foliage in mild winters but shed most of their leaves in a cold snap.
They might be grown primarily for their flowers, but plenty have striking foliage. ‘ Sunshine Daydream’ boasts green leaves with cream margins, while ‘ Kaleidoscope’ has yellow and green leaves that turn orange and red in autumn. New for 2021, ‘ Sparkling Silver’ forms a 3ft-tall plant clothed with green leaves edged with silver.
These sun-loving shrubs prefer moist, well- drained ground, but they’ll tolerate other soil types. They are great in beds and borders, planted as groundcover on banks or used to create an informal hedge. In my opinion, abelias are a musthave in cottage gardens and are perfect for wildlife-friendly spaces thanks to their nectar-rich blooms.
After planting, spread a 2- 3indeep layer of composted bark or garden compost around plants to protect roots from frost. Get them off to a flying start in spring by feeding with a balanced fertiliser, such as Growmore or Blood, Fish & Bone. Even though they are drought- tolerant, make sure to water plants regularly during hot, dry spells in summer.
Smaller specimens are ideal in patio pots filled with a 50-50 blend of peat-free, multi-purpose compost and John Innes No 3 – choose containers that are slightly bigger than the rootball and have drainage holes in the base. A good variety to try is ‘Magic Daydream’, a 2ft-tall stunner with white flowers and pink-flushed, variegated leaves.
Keep abelias in good shape by pruning lightly for the first few years, removing any wayward branches that spoil its shape. From the third year on, remove about a third of growth including some of the oldest, thickest branches.
You can rejuvenate a neglected, overgrown abelia by cutting back all stems to about 2ft.