ABELIA × grandiflora Tricolor Charm ('Mincautri') (PBR)

Description

Abelia × grandiflora Tricolor Charm ('Mincautri') (PBR)

Height x Spread: 100cm x 100cm

This compact, informal shrub has red stems with orangey-pink, green and white variegated foliage. Ideal for use as a low hedge or in a mixed border, it also lends itself to use in pots and containers. Borderline hardy, this plant should be placed in areas that are reasonably sheltered and not prone to the harshest weather in winter.

Best in fertile, moist but well drained soil of any pH, this Abelia will give year-round colour and provide the added bonus of scented, white trumpet shaped flowers from July to the first frosts. 

Remove spent flowers to encourage a longer season of flowering and trim the plant lightly in April or May to maintain the shape if needed. Mulch around the plant in spring or autumn to maintain the mycorrhizal content in the soil and the plants vigour, but be careful not to pile the mulch up against the stems.

Any dead or damaged stems should be removed in April and older stems can be lightly thinned to stop the plant becoming too dense. This would be a shame as the flowers appear along each stem at the points where the leaves emerge and they could end up hidden from view. It is a reasonably fast-growing plant so will put on new growth after any spring pruning.