Abelia mosanensis 'Monia'
The Abelia mosanensis 'Monia' is a compact, evergreen shrub with glossy, dark green leaves and bearing fragrant pinkish-white flowers from spring into summer. It's a medium sized plant that reaches 100cm after 10 years (3.2 ft). It's flowering period is May - June, after that period the foliage takes on a reddish - orange hue in autumn giving this shrub a long season on interest. It has a nice scent too.
Flowering period
Planting period
About this plant
Abelia
Abelias (Abelia) are deciduous to semi-evergreen shrubs from East Asia, mainly China, with gracefully arching branches. They are valued for their long, scented flowering of small white to pink trumpet flowers, and for the coppery calyces that remain after the flowers have dropped, set against foliage that often turns purplish in autumn.
Korean abelia Abelia mosanensis
Abelia mosanensis, the fragrant abelia, is a deciduous shrub from Korea, sometimes also listed under the genus Zabelia. Unlike the summer-flowering abelias, it blooms in spring, roughly from late April to June: pink buds open into white, intensely fragrant tubular flowers. It forms a rounded, multi-stemmed shrub of around 1.5 to 2 m, with glossy leaves that turn orange-red in autumn.
Location and soil
Thrives in full sun and also does well in partial shade. It prefers a humus-rich, well-drained soil that stays moist and is neutral to slightly acidic; very chalky ground does not suit it. It is one of the hardiest abelias and comes through Belgian winters without any protection.
Pruning and care
Flowers on one-year-old and older wood, so prune right after flowering, in June or early July, by thinning out old or badly placed stems; heavy pruning in late winter would remove the coming flowers. It is generally free of pests and diseases, and deer tend to leave it alone. Keep the soil moist during dry summers.
Use in the garden
Ideal near a terrace, path or front door, where its spring scent can be fully enjoyed, and as a solitary shrub, in mixed borders or in an informal flowering hedge. It also grows well in a large container. The flowers attract butterflies, and the orange-red autumn colour gives the shrub a second season of interest.
Characteristics
Botanical
| Family | Caprifoliaceae |
| Genus | Abelia |
| Species | mosanensis |
| Cultivar | 'Monia' |
Flowering
| Flowering period | may, june |
| Colour (flower) | white |
| Flowers | fragrant |
Foliage
| Evergreen | yes |
| Colour (foliage) | green |
| Autumn colour | orange, red |
Growth habit
| Height | 100 cm |
Location
| Winter hardiness | -20 °C |
| Soil type | acid, neutral |
| Location | sun |
| Soil moisture | normal |
Use
| Type (use) | shrub, in group |