Abelia 'RASPBERRY PROFUSION' hybrid abelia
size/type
medium-sized shrub,small shrub
usual height
0,5-1,5m
usual width
0,5-1,5m
leaves
semi-deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
July-November
location
full to partial sun
soil type
any (acidic to alkaline)
soil moisture requirements
dry or damp, but with good drainage
USDA zone (lowest)
7 (down to -23°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Looking for the most spectacular trees and shrubs with showy flowers one might forget the smaller ones, which are not less diligent or beautiful. Abelias are one example. They come from Japan, Asia, and Mexico and are cultivated for their profuse flowering in summer and autumn, or coloured/variegated foliage which is semi-deciduous or deciduous in C.E. climate (zone 5a-7). They do not just survive here, they thrive.
Description of the plant:
Raspberry Profusion is a beautiful variety of hybrid abelia, which was created by crossing Chinese abelia and pink-flowering variety Edward Goucher. It was developed by American breeders Carol Robacker and Sloane M. Scheiber from the University of Georgia, who are dedicated to breeding new varieties of native plants with the aim of achieving greater drought resistance, tolerance to urban conditions, and sterility to avoid unwanted invasion. The variety is protected by the following patents: PP18834 (USA - 2008), EU 41004 (Europe - 2015) and 18358 (UK - 2015).Raspberry Profusion abelia provides an even greater abundance of flowers over its parents and a compact habit. From July to October appear dense inflorescences composed of many small, tubular, fragrant flowers of light pink color. When they fall off they reveal wide-open, deep salmon-pink sepals which are perhaps even more beautiful. The leaves are small, pointed, very glossy, semi-deciduous to deciduous in zone 6, evergreen in zones 7 and higher, dark green in spring and summer and maroon from late autumn in colder regions. Twigs are purplish red.
It naturally forms compact and dense, slightly spreading bushes with elegantly arching branches. In spring, you can prune it lightly or severely as it tolerates a hard pruning into old wood for rejuvenation. Use it as a flowering addition to non-blooming evergreen landscapes (among compact conifers, leucothoe, dwarf photinias and cherry laurels), mix it with look-like shrubs with delicate foliage (choisya, hebe, berberis), or place it among other drought-resistant shrubs (caryopteris, vitex, arbutus, grasses) if you need maintenance-free greenery.
Abelias love sun and heat. They are extremely drought tolerant and don't require watering from the second year in the ground. They are also widely soil adaptable as they cope with almost any but water-logged ground. They are also easy to transplant. In old encyclopedias you may find low hardiness in continental climate. The truth is that we trialled all of them on long-term basis and they ALL not just survive, they thrive here in zones 5b and 6 without any winter protection, and don't even exhibit any major damage after a harsh winter. Raspberry Profusion has so far proved hardy to -23 °C (USDA zone 6) and trials continue.
Last update 04-12-2023
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