Don Mahoney, curator at Strybing Arboretum, one of our favorite Bay Area botanical wonderlands - entrusted this rare and un-named trailing Abelia species to our care. Collected on a high cliff overlooking the sea in state of Chiapas, Mexico its perfumed purple flowers are an enchanting upgrade from the Abelia blooms you’ve seen before. Its habit is weeping and draping, so don’t go planting it as a hedge. Instead, allow it to wend its way through the stems of sturdier plants, spill delicately over a rock wall, or hold court over some gently sloping shady bank. Evergreen and Spring blooms are borne in clusters of 1/2” flowers held at the end of each willowy stem. Mature size is unknown, but I’m guessing that leaving it 3’ of breadth would be kind. It will only gain height with some support or encouragement!

Claire Woods
Propagator