Abelia grandiflora dwarf

Dwarf Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora 'Nana') is the low flowering shrub to use where you want a neat 1m hedge that looks after itself. It grows to about 1m tall and 1m wide, with small glossy leaves and white bell flowers from late spring into autumn. The pink sepals stay on the bush long after the petals drop, so it holds colour for months. Planted 60cm apart it makes a tidy low hedge in two seasons.

Why you'll love it

• A hedge that stays low. At 1m by 1m it holds its height with one trim a year, so it will not creep up and block a view.
• Colour for most of the year. White bells through the warm months, then persistent pink sepals that carry the display well past flowering.
• Pet friendly. Not toxic to cats or dogs, which makes it an easy choice for a front garden or a boundary a dog patrols.
• Hard to kill. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, heat tolerant and content in poor soil, so it performs from Adelaide to Brisbane.

Where it works best

Low hedging. Plant 60cm apart in a single row. At that spacing the plants meet in the second season and give a solid low wall with no gaps at the base.

Borders and mass planting. Use the same 60cm spacing in a drift under taller shrubs or along a driveway, where the arching habit softens a hard edge.

Pots and small gardens. A container 400mm or wider suits it, and clipped once or twice a year it makes a reliable pair either side of an entry.

Growing dwarf abelia in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the densest growth and the heaviest flowering, though it accepts part shade. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it is frost hardy. In cold districts it may thin a little over winter and fills back out in spring.

Soil. Almost anything that drains, including poor and rocky ground. Work compost through a sandy bed, mulch 75mm deep and keep the mulch off the stems.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer, then it is genuinely drought tolerant. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring keeps the foliage glossy and the flowering heavy.

Pruning. Trim after the main flush to hold the shape, and cut a tired plant back hard in late winter. It shoots from old wood, so a neglected hedge can be renovated rather than replaced.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow it as tube stock, in 140mm pots sold in packs of ten and in 200mm pots sold in packs of six. Tubes are young single stemmed plants and the value choice for a long hedge run. The 200mm plants are branched and closer to hedge height, so they close the line a season sooner.

Some leaf drop after transit is normal and grows out quickly. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Tip prune from planting and expect a continuous low hedge by the second season, backed by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare the best hedging plants for Australian gardens.
• Read how to plant and maintain a sharp hedge.
• Browse other low maintenance shrubs.
• See more plants that are safe around pets.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

Sixty centimetres apart in a single row. Closer spacing does not close the hedge faster and only makes the plants compete for water.

How often does it need trimming?

Once or twice a year is plenty. Trim after the main flowering flush, and take a tired plant back hard in late winter to rebuild the shape.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

Yes. Dwarf abelia is not toxic to pets, and the arching stems handle a dog pushing through better than a formal clipped hedge.

Will it grow in a cold garden?

Yes. It is frost hardy and grows well in cool temperate districts, though it can thin over a cold winter before filling out again in spring.