How To Grow Abelia Kaleidoscope (Essential Tips)

While many Abelias are large shrubs, Abelia Kaleidoscope brings glorious seasonal colors in a compact package. Abelia Kaleidoscope changes from white flowers and yellow-green variegated foliage in spring to rich reds and oranges in the fall. This stunning display needs minimal care, making Abelia Kaleidoscope a fantastic shrub for novice gardeners. Here we’ll take you through everything you need to know about how to grow Abelia Kaleidoscope at home including planting, soil considerations, light preferences, feeding, pruning, and over-winter care.

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How to Grow Abelia Kaleidoscope – the Essentials:

Botanical Name:	Abelia x grandiflora
Also Known As:	Glossy Abelia
Hardiness Zones:	USDA Zones 6 to 9
Flowering Months:	May to October
Growing Difficulty:	Easy to grow with minimal needs, great for novice gardeners
Type of Plant:	Flowering perennial semi-evergreen or deciduous shrub
Light Requirements:	Ideally full sun, but can tolerate partial shade
Temp & Humidity:	Can handle minimum temperatures of -10ºF. Sweet spot is 60 to 75ºF. Drought-tolerant and requires low to medium humidity
Watering Needs:	Water about once per week to maintain moist soil
Soil Preferences:	Likes well-draining chalky, loamy, or sandy soils with some nutrients and a pH range of 5.0 to 7.5
Feeding:	Only needs a few doses of slow-release fertilizer each year; early spring, summer, and late summer
Growth Expectations:	Reaches 2 to 3 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide
Toxicity:	Non-toxic to pets and humans

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About Abelia Kaleidoscope

• Family: Caprifoliaceae 
• Genus: Abelia
• Species: Abelia x grandiflora

Origins & History

Abelias form a family of shrubs that are indigenous to eastern Asia and Central American regions like Mexico. Abelia Kaleidoscope (Abelia x grandiflora) is a smaller dwarf cultivar with a long flowering period compared to other abelias. 

General Botanical Characteristics

Abelia Kaleidoscope has stunning whorled foliage that changes color depending on the season. In the spring and summer, the foliage is a variegated mix of golden yellow and green. It has pink buds that open out into tubular white blooms during the summer months.

In the fall, the leaves change to sport rich reds and oranges. In warmer regions, this plant will behave like an evergreen. About half of the leaves will drop in colder areas as the plant behaves like a deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub.

Uses & Benefits

These showy shrubs are great statement plants for containers. They don’t reach the heights of most abelias and can fill gaps really well. In some regions of Mexico, abelias are believed to represent equality.

Most Suitable USDA Growing Zones

Abelia Kaleidoscope grows well in both cool and warm areas throughout USDA Zones 6 to 9. In Zones 6 to 7, Abelia Kaleidoscope will be semi-evergreen. In Zones 8 and 9, it can survive as an evergreen throughout the winter.

Blooming & Flowering

Abelia Kaleidoscope is a perennial, and its flowers will come back year after year. These begin as pink buds and unfurl at the end of spring into gorgeous white flowers. Abelia Kaleidoscope flowers longer than most other abelias, with the blooms lasting deep into the fall.

Growth Expectations

As a dwarf variety, Abelia Kaleidoscope won’t grow as large as most species of Abelia. These smaller shrubs typically reach between 2 and 3 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide. It usually takes between two and five years for these shrubs to get to their mature size.

Best Companion Plants for Abelia Kaleidoscope

Thanks to its lower height, Abelia Kaleidoscope is an excellent complement for taller flowering shrubs and perennials such as:

• Agapanthus
• Lilac
• Myrtle
• Spirea
• Viburnum

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How to Grow Abelia Kaleidoscope

What Are the Best Locations for Abelia Kaleidoscope?

Abelia Kaleidoscope loves a spot with full sun, although it’ll need some afternoon shade in hotter regions. This location should provide some shelter from the wind. The soil needs to drain well and be slightly acidic but still needs to contain some nutrients.

What Are the Best Times of Year to Plant Abelia Kaleidoscope?

In colder areas of Zone 6 or 7, Abelia Kaleidoscope does best when planted in the spring. When planting in the spring, wait until the final frost has passed. 

For warmer climates, particularly Zone 9, you might get better results if you plant the abelia in the fall. This helps the roots develop strongly before the summer heat arrives. 

Growing From Seed Vs. Planting Young Nursery Plants

As a hybridized cultivar, it’s impossible to grow an Abelia Kaleidoscope from seeds without an established plant. The primary method of creating new Abelia Kaleidoscope specimens is to propagate using cuttings.

You can pick Abelia Kaleidoscope plants up at nurseries or garden centers and plant them directly into your garden. You can then take cuttings during the growing season.

What to Do Before Planting Abelia Kaleidoscope

Before planting an Abelia Kaleidoscope, have a plan for where you want it to go. Take into account the space it’ll need as a mature plant compared to surrounding specimens. 

Clear the soil of weeds and loosen it with a rake. Add some organic compost to the soil to provide more nutrients for the plant. You can also add mulch and other organic matter.

What’s the Best Soil for Abelia Kaleidoscope?

Abelia Kaleidoscope needs well-draining soil that can still retain some moisture. The ideal pH level is between 5.0 and 7.5. While Abelia Kaleidoscope can tolerate droughts and warm conditions, the soil should be kept lightly moist.

Chalky, loamy, and sandy growing mediums that have some nutrients are ideal. Compost and mulch can be used to boost the nutrient levels of poorer soils.

How to Plant Abelia Kaleidoscope

Once the soil has been prepared with some compost, dig out a hole for the Abelia Kaleidoscope. This should be a little bit deeper than the plant’s root ball and twice the width. Add some more compost into the hole. Ease the Abelia Kaleidoscope out of its nursery pot. 

Loosen the roots slightly before inserting the plant into the hole. Add compost and soil to fill the gaps and give the plant a thorough drink.

Abelia Kaleidoscope Light Preferences

In most of its growing zones, Abelia Kaleidoscope loves to bathe in full sun. In hotter regions, position the plant so that it receives some shade in the afternoon. Between six and eight hours of direct sunlight per day is ideal.

Temperature & Humidity Preferences

Abelia Kaleidoscope can adjust to a range of temperatures, but the ideal range is between 60 and 75ºF. These shrubs can survive in temperatures as low as -10ºF, but hard frosts will cause damage.

Abelia Kaleidoscope needs low to medium humidity and can handle some drought. However, for the best growth, the soil should remain slightly moist as much as possible.

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How to Care For Abelia Kaleidoscope

When and How to Water Abelia Kaleidoscope

Abelia Kaleidoscope needs consistently moist soil that doesn’t become waterlogged. To make sure that the plant gets the right amount of water, check the top two or three inches of soil using your finger.

If the medium feels dry, give the plant a drink. This should equate to about an inch of water once a week. In hotter areas, this will need to be increased. 

How, When, and Why to Fertilize

Abelia Kaleidoscope doesn’t need a vast amount of fertilizer throughout the year. You only need to give it two or three doses of slow-release fertilizer each year.

The first feeding should be given in early spring before the shrub starts to pump out new growth. For the best results, use a granule fertilizer designed for plants that like acidic soil. 

Apply a more diluted water-soluble fertilizer in the summer once the plant starts to develop flower buds. Feed the plant one more slow-release dose towards the end of summer with good nitrogen content. This stimulates bushier foliage.

Deadheading, Pruning & Cutting Back Abelia Kaleidoscope

While the flowers are blooming, deadhead any spent flower heads to encourage more blooms. In most years, you won’t need to prune the Abelia Kaleidoscope too much. These plants use newer wood to produce shoots, so don’t get too zealous when pruning.

During the growing season, perform light pruning to train the shrub into the desired shape. Cut it back by no more than a third once the plant has gone dormant in the winter. This helps promote bushier growth next spring.

Every three or four years, you’ll want to perform a more comprehensive pruning to remove old, dying wood. Fear not, the plant will recover with plenty of new growth.

Propagation

Abelia Kaleidoscope shrubs are propagated through cuttings. For the best results, take softwood cuttings of newer shoots during the spring. Choose a bud that has at least 6 inches of growth and some emerging leaves. 

You can also take semi-ripe cuttings when flower buds start to emerge. Again, aim for sections with at least 6 inches of growth. Make the cut underneath a leaf node to allow the section to continue growing. 

Plant cuttings up in a pot and keep the soil moist. It’ll take a few weeks for them to root.

Overwintering Abelia Kaleidoscope

Unless your region has hard winter frosts, Abelia Kaleidoscope will be perfectly fine outside in the winter. Protect container plants from hard frosts by keeping them in a greenhouse or indoors.

When and How to Repot Abelia Kaleidoscope Grown in Containers

Thanks to its compact nature, Abelia Kaleidoscope makes an ideal container shrub. They’ll need to be repotted every two or three years to keep them growing well. 

Choose a new pot with a few extra inches of space. Water the plant a few days beforehand to help some soil stick to the roots. In the new pot, use a mix of soil from the previous pot and fresh compost. Give the plant a thorough watering.

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Common Problems & How to Treat Them

Underwatering

Although they’re drought-tolerant, Abelia Kaleidoscope plants will suffer if left to dry out completely.  Wilting foliage indicates a thirsty plant. If the top three inches of soil feel bone dry, thoroughly water the plant.

Overwatering

Overwatering can lead to root rot and other debilitating problems. Check the roots if the foliage starts wilting. Brown, mushy, foul-smelling roots have rotted. Trim them away and only water when the top two inches of soil feels dry.

Too Much Light

In hotter regions, Abelia Kaleidoscope shrubs can suffer from too much intense sunlight. If the foliage looks faded or burned at the tips, it’s getting too much sun. Provide some shade during the afternoon.

Common Pests & Diseases

Aphids are tiny black or green insects that drink sap from plants, weakening them. If you’re feeling brave you can squash small infestations with your fingers. If they’ve grown in number, use a jet of water or organic pesticides to clear them from the plant.

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Essential Tools to Have Around

Here are all of the tools you should have around forAbelia Kaleidoscope care. 

• Watering can
• Trowel
• Rake
• Secateurs

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Wrap Up

With their stunning year-round foliage and compact size, Abelia Kaleidoscope shrubs make ideal statement plants. These low-maintenance plants are an easy way for beginners to add some color to their garden. Capable of thriving in Zones 6 to 9, Abelia Kaleidoscope is a wonderfully hardy shrub.

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Growing Abelia Kaleidoscope FAQs:

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