Абелія

Species of Abelia are shrubs from 1 to 6 m tall. The genus currently includes six species native to China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The flowers are pendulous, white to pink, and bell-shaped, with a five-lobed corolla 1 to 5 cm long. The genus previously contained about 30 species and hybrids. Molecular phylogenetic studies showed that the genus was not monophyletic, and the majority of Abelia species have been transferred to other genera.

Origin and Cultivation

Glossy abelia, Abelia × grandiflora, is a hybrid shrub that is a cross between Abelia chinensis and Abelia uniflora. It was first raised in 1886 at the Rovelli nursery at Pallanza, now Verbania, on Lake Maggiore in Italy. It is used as an ornamental plant in specimen plantings in gardens, or in a mixed border with other shrubs. Though relatively easy to cultivate, it is not fully hardy and requires a sheltered position in full sun.

Abelia has an OPALS allergy scale rating of 5 out of 10, indicating moderate potential to cause allergic reactions. People allergic to honeysuckle may experience cross-reactive allergic reactions with Abelia.

Flower Volatiles

Four major volatile components emitted from flowers of Abelia grandiflora were identified: phenylacetaldehyde, benzaldehyde, 2-phenylethanol, and benzyl alcohol. Phenylacetaldehyde occurs extensively in nature because it can be biosynthetically derived from the amino acid phenylalanine. 2-Phenylethanol occurs widely in nature, being found in a variety of essential oils. It is found in extract of rose, carnation, hyacinth, Aleppo pine, orange blossom, ylang-ylang, geranium, neroli, and champaca.