The 'Edward Goucher' glossy abelia is a hybrid between Abelia x grandiflora and A. schumannii and was introduced in 1911 by Edward Goucher of the United States Department of Agriculture. It is a deciduous shrub in the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae). The Genus name honors Dr. Clark Abel an English naturalist and physician. This shrub will grow 2-3 feet tall with a similar spread and a graceful arching form. In warm winter areas it will grow 4-5 feet tall and be semi-evergreen to evergreen. The 'Edward Goucher' glossy abelia prefers full sun but tolerates some shade in fertile moist well-drained soil. It blooms on new wood so pruning can be done at any time. In late winter to early spring prune any dead or damaged branches. It may die to the ground in cold winter areas. The pinkish-purple funnel-shaped flowers in clusters appear in summer through fall. The glossy green leaves turn purple/bronze in the fall providing 3 seasons of interest. Use this plant as a specimen, in a foundation or in a shrub border. Its graceful arching shape makes a great informal hedge. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. More information on Abelia x grandiflora .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Often confused withAbelia x grandifloraAbelia x grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope'Abelia x grandiflora 'Prostrata'
Fills a similar nicheHamamelis virginianaSyringa persicaSyringa pubescens subsp. pubescens
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Purple/Lavender
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Obovate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Dentate; Entire
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Glossy green ovate leaves are 1.25" long with entire to dentate margins. The surface has a bumpy appearance. Turns bronze/lavender in the fall.
Fall color
Brown/Copper; Purple/Lavender
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Funnel
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Summer through fall clusters of pink to lavender 5-petaled funnel-shaped flowers with red sepals, orange/yellow throats. individual flowers are 3/4 inch long with 2 persisting sepals once the flower falls off.