Abeliophyllum distichum
Korean abelialeaf
- Height × spread
- 2m × 1.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Flowers
- Winter, Spring
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is a rather gaunt looking plant with grey wood, generally grown against a warm wall. It flowers in February and March bearing sweetly fragrant blooms. They are small, white, often pink flushed, and one may turn and may be overlooked. The flowers are held on pinkish purple leafless shoots. Enjoy the charm of its bony skeleton during the winter and its quiet foliage presence during the summer. It can be hard pruned very few years to maintain its size. Give it fertile well drained soil, and, except in warmest places, a west or south facing wall in a sunny spot. It should reach around 2m (6ft) high with a 1.5m (5ft) spread.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Stem colour
- Grey
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes, sweet
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 2m
- Spread
- 1.5m
- Height in 10 years
- 1m
- Spread in 10 years
- 1m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Winter
- Flowers in
- Winter, Spring
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Winter garden, Wild flower meadow, Small scale garden, Scented garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Wall cover, Structural
- Walls
- South facing
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Spring-Winter · Planting
Tie branches to supports
This plant is usually grown up walls, trellis or fences. Since the plant cannot naturally support itself, it needs to be fixed to wires or other supports attached to the wall, trellis or fence.
The plant is most attractive when trained or it can become ugly with bare-stems. Use string or 'soft fixings' to attach the branches to the wires or supports on walls, trellis or fences.
Winter
Winter-Spring · Planting
Prune after flowering
After flowering, prune the plant back to a crown of stems at around 45cm high.
This plant becomes ugly with bare stems if not hard-pruned. It will grow vigorously after pruning.
Planting & general
Outdoor planting · Planting
Add root growth stimulant to the planting hole
Mycorrhizal fungi helps roots establish quickly, so they absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. It comes as a powder, granule or gel. Add to the planting hole or container, and to the plant's rootball before planting in the hole. For "bareroot" plants use a gel.