Abelia triflora
| Abelia triflora | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 6.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 11' |
| Width: | 10' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Blooms: | Early Summer |
| Native to: | |
Abelia triflora (formerly known as Zabelia triflora)
Propagation: Seed - we have no specific information for this plant, but suggest sowing the seed in early spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 -10cm with a slight heel, July in pots of sandy soil in a frame[1]. Takes 3 - 4 weeks. Very easy, a good percentage of the cuttings root[2].
Cuttings of mature wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel if possible, November in a cold frame. High percentage[2].
Cultivation: Requires a well-drained open loamy soil[1] in a warm, sheltered sunny position[4][3]. Plants are best grown in semi-shade[5]. They are intolerant of water-logging[4] and of dry soils[5]. Succeeds in any soil but new growth is less vigorous in dry soils[6]. One report says that the plant likes a soil with a high chalk content[3], though another says that chlorosis occurs on very alkaline soils[6].
This species is hardy to about -15°c[7], it grows well in the open at Kew[1].
A fairly slow-growing plant, it is shy to flower in British gardens unless placed against a sunny wall[5]. It flowers on wood that is 2 - 3 years old or older[8]. Another report says that the plant flowers on the new wood[5], whilst another says that it flowers on terminal clusters[3]. Any pruning is best done immediately after flowering by thinning out the old wood.[8][5].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.[4]
Closely related to A buddleioides and A. umbellata[8].
The flowers are wonderfully scented[8], with the fragrance of vanilla[3].
Range: E. Asia - N.W. Himalayas.
Habitat: Dry scrub and rocky slopes in calcareous soils, 1200 - 4200 metres in Uttar Pradesh[9][10].
Usage: Wood - hard, close and even-grained. Used for walking sticks[9][10].
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Grey-Wilson, Christopher and Victoria Matthews. Gardening on Walls. Collins, 1983.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Davis, Brian. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking, 1990.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Gamble, James. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 1972.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Gupta, Basant. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press, 1945.