Abelia × grandiflora is a hybrid species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae, raised by hybridising A. chinensis with A. uniflora.[1]
| Abelia × grandiflora | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Dipsacales |
| Family: | Caprifoliaceae |
| Genus: | Abelia |
| Species: | A. × grandiflora
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| Binomial name | |
| Abelia × grandiflora (Rovelli ex André) Rehder (1900)
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description
editIt is a deciduous or semi-evergreen multistemmed shrub with rounded, spreading, or gracefully arching branches to 1 to 1.8 m (3.3 to 5.9 ft) tall. The leaves are ovate, glossy, dark green, and 2–6 cm (0.8–2.4 in) long. The fragrant flowers are produced in clusters, white, tinged pink, bell-shaped, to 2 cm long.[2] Unlike most flowering shrubs in cultivation, the species blooms from late summer to well into the autumn.
The Latin specific epithet grandiflora means "abundant flowers".[3] [note, a review of Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners reveals it actually says "with large flowers". New Latin, from Latin grandis great + flor-, flos flower, and the Oxford English Dictionary says "Bearing large flowers". However these flowers are not large, but they are abundant, so further research is warranted.] "Abelia", the common name and genus name, honors Clarke Abel, physician and naturalist who collected seeds and plants on a British expedition to China in 1817.[2]
Cultivation
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Abelia × grandiflora was first raised in 1886 at the Rovelli nursery at Pallanza (now Verbania), on Lake Maggiore in Italy. It is used as an ornamental plant in specimen plantings in gardens, or in a mixed border with other shrubs. Though relatively easy to cultivate, it is not fully hardy, and requires a sheltered position in full sun. Abelia prefers moist, organically rich soils with good drainage.[2] Propagation is by cuttings. This plant is still widely listed in Australia and the UK under the name Abelia. The variegated cultivar 'Hopleys’,[4] with pale pink flowers and growing to 1.5 m × 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in × 4 ft 11 in), has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
References
edit- ^ a b "Abelia × grandiflora (Rovelli ex André) Rehder". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "Abelia × grandiflora - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
- ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 184533731X.
- ^ "Abelia × grandiflora 'Hopleys' (PBR) (v)". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- Bailey, L. H. (2005). Manual of Gardening (Second Edition). Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
- (in Portuguese) Lorenzi, H.; Souza, M.S. (2001) Plantas Ornamentais no Brasil: arbustivas, herbáceas e trepadeiras. Plantarum ISBN 85-86714-12-7.