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Abelia x grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope' PP16,988 (Kaleidoscope Abelia) - A compact and dense low mounding shrub to 24-30 inches tall by 36 to 42 inches wide with bright red stems holding strongly variegated leaves; bright yellow with a light green center in the spring and gradually changing to golden yellow with a green center in the summer and then a combination of golden yellow, bright orange, and fiery red in the fall. In late summer the light pink buds open to display small white tubular flowers, which persist into fall.
Plant in full sun for best foliage color but also grows well in part shade. Tolerates most soil types but performs poorly in heavy poor drained soils are in locations with very high Ph. Hardy in USDA Zones 6 to 10. An excellent plant for containers, as a low accent plant in the garden and for mass planting. The foliage does not scorch or bleach in full sun as do some other variegated Abelia cultivars.
The name for the genus honors Dr. Clarke Abel, a physician and author who discovered the Abelia chinensis in China in 1816. More recently a study conducted by the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew separated the species of Abelia into four genera with many of them such as this plant listed as species or cultivars within the genus Linnaea, but Kew's own database continues to list these plants as Abelia. This plant was selected as a sport of Abelia 'Little Richard' in 1997 by Randy Lindsey, propagator at Panoromac Farms in Marshville, NC. The name Kaleidoscope describes the seasonal color changes of the foliage. A plant patent was filed on this plant in February 2005 and it was released for sales in January 2006. It is marketed in the US by PlantHaven.
This information about Abelia x grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope' PP16,988 displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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