The Kaleidoscope Abelia adds an exciting pop of color and flair to any landscaping design and should definitely be considered when shopping shrubs for sale. In spring, the center of the foliage is light green with bright yellow around the outer edges.

In summer, the color deepens, transitioning into a dark green center with golden-yellow outer edges. An abundance of white, subtly fragrant flowers emerge during late summer and continue to bloom into fall. With a beautiful spectrum of green, red, golden-yellow, and orange this glossy abelia is quite literally a kaleidoscope of color in fall.

The Kaleidoscope Abelia is more than just a pretty face! It is an extremely versatile and hardy plant. This dwarf abelia is frost, drought, and heat tolerant, and deer resistant. From mixed beds to mass plantings to containers, this semi-evergreen plant brings distinctive charm to any of your landscaping needs. What more can you ask for in a flowering shrub?! Add some Soft Touch Holly or Green Mountain Boxwood shrubs into the mix for a great look!

Key Features

• Colorful. This small plant boasts huge color with vibrant shades of green, yellow, orange, and red throughout the year. If you are looking for a pop of color for your landscape, the Kaleidoscope Abelia is a top pick!
• Versatile in the landscape. This dwarf abelia bush is great in mixed beds, small groups and mass plantings, and as a foundation plant. The Kaleidoscope really stands out in containers.
• Semi-evergreen. This variegated abelia is evergreen in a majority of its recommended growing zones but may lose some or even all of its leaves in the coldest parts of its zone recommendations.
• Low maintenance. The Kaleidoscope Abelia is frost, drought, and heat tolerant and deer resistant. Once this flowering plant is established it requires no maintenance.

Pro Tips for Best Color: Plant your Kaleidoscope Abelia in full sun. Provide a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in the spring. This eye-catching bush provides an abundance of color with minimal care and adds curb appeal to any home or place of business.

Kaleidoscope Abelia care is easy. Once established this hardy plant requires little to no maintenance.

Planting

Planting Time: Plant abelias any time of the year taking care to avoid temperature extremes, especially during the height of summer. When planting in summer, water this plant deeply every day for a few weeks.

Growing Zones: The Kaleidoscope Abelia bush is recommended for growing zone 6, zone 7, zone 8, and zone 9.

Sunlight: Plant this abelia in full sun for best blooming and color. However, this shrub does well in part shade as well.

Soil: The Abelia Kaleidoscope is very adaptable, but prefers well-drained, fertile soil.

Watering

Deeply water when newly planted and twice weekly during establishment (2-3 months). Once established, only minimal watering is needed and generally only during extended periods of dry, hot weather.

Fertilizing

Feed the Kaleidoscope Abelia with a balanced slow release fertilizer in spring.

Maintenance

Abelias do not generally require pruning. If heavy pruning is desired, prune in winter. Light pruning of abelias can be done anytime.

The Kaleidoscope Abelia is ideal for adding color, contrast, and texture to the home landscape. This dwarf shrub is great for mixed beds, low hedges, mass or group plantings, and as a foundation plant. Try this abelia bush in pots for an exciting and unique look. This stunning specimen shrub shines in the landscape.

The Radiance, Rose Creek , Little Richard, and Mardi Gras Abelia are also great options.

Learn when to prune your flowering shrubs.

For additional options, be sure to browse our Abelia and Flowering Shrubs collection.

History of the Kaleidoscope Abelia

Abelia x grandiflora Kaleidoscope is a variegated branch sport of Abelia x grandiflora Little Richard. This means that a Little Richard Abelia plant grew a unique branch that was different from the rest of its branches. Kent Bell discovered this anomaly in North Carolina and got right to work on sharing it with the world. After some growing, testing, and perfecting, the Kaleidoscope Abelia was released for sale to the public.