Abelia Magic Daydream

The Abelia (x) grandiflora 'Magic Daydream' is a new variety of dwarf Abelia that stands out for its beautiful variegated foliage and good hardiness. Forming a very tight ball, this bush is adorned with ever-changing foliage that is as bright and colourful, variegated from very pale yellow to cream, white, and then pink in cooler weather. It also offers gently fragrant summer flowering, in the form of white-pink bells that give way in autumn to a rich mantle of rusty bracts, persistant on the bush. A variety that is quite attractive, suitable for placing in the foreground of large groups, in a low hedge, or in a large container on the terrace.

The Abelia x grandiflora is a bush from the caprifoliaceae family. This hybrid is the result of cross-breeding between Abelia chinensis, native to temperate China, and Abelia uniflora, which comes from eastern China. 'Magic Daydream' is a recent Dutch creation that won the silver medal at Plantarium in 2017. This bush has a dense, compact, slightly spreading habit. It will not exceed 60cm (23.6in) in height with an average spread of 80cm. Its growth is rather slow. The long, lightly fragrant flowers last all summer, from July to September-October, when few other bushes are in bloom. Its countless small funnel-shaped corollas, ranging in colour from white to pink depending on the season, are gathered in terminal panicles. As they fade, they give way to beautiful calyxes composed of rusty bracts, which are very decorative against the autumn foliage. The branches of this Abelia bear small, glossy, semi-evergreen leaves, the variegation of which also evolves throughout the seasons, changing from yellow to cream, white, and then pink on a green-grey background. The oval leaves, more or less toothed, take on a more pinkish hue with the first cool nights and persist for a long time on the branch.

'Magic Daydream' Abelia, with its compact habit resembling a bright cushion, enriches the range of plants suitable for growing in large pots as well as small gardens. It can also serve as a ground cover, at the front of groups or along a pathway. It can be grouped with other low bushes such as Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety', Berberis thumbergii 'Atropurpurea Nana', Ceanothus repens, or Genista lydia. This variety, once well established, is resistant to drought and hardy to about -15°C (5°F) in well-drained soil. It is best cultivated in pots in colder regions and protected over winter.