Confetti® Abelia - 3 Gallon

Confetti Abelia - Variegated Semi-Evergreen Flowering Shrub | 3-4 ft, Individual Plant

Add year-round visual interest to your landscape with this stunning variegated shrub that delivers continuous blooms and colorful foliage through three seasons. The Confetti Abelia is a compact, semi-evergreen shrub featuring cream-edged green leaves that turn brilliant shades of orange, red, and purple in fall. This exceptional flowering shrub has become a designer favorite for mixed borders and foundation plantings. With its fragrant white tubular flowers and striking variegated foliage, the Confetti Abelia creates dynamic color combinations that evolve throughout the growing season. The delicate honey-scented blooms appear from late spring through fall, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds while the colorful leaves provide stunning autumn display before persisting through mild winters. Unlike solid green abelias that can appear monotonous, these variegated cultivars provide multi-season interest with foliage that actually intensifies in color as temperatures cool.

Why You'll Love the Confetti Abelia

Multi-Season Color: Variegated cream and green foliage transforms to brilliant orange-red fall colors, making this the perfect choice for landscapes needing year-round visual interest beyond just flowering periods.

Continuous Blooms: Plant 4-5 feet apart for hedge plantings or 3-4 feet for mixed borders, and they quickly establish into rounded, graceful shrubs. These variegated abelias have earned recognition as one of the most reliable flowering shrubs for extended bloom periods.

Pollinator Friendly: Fragrant tubular white flowers bloom from late spring through fall, attracting butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Once established, these semi-evergreen shrubs provide important late-season nectar when many other flowers have finished.

Low-Maintenance Versatility: A adaptable landscaping choice due to its tolerance of various soil conditions and minimal pruning requirements - perfect for busy gardeners who want maximum impact with consistent performance.

Confetti Abelia Details

• Botanical Name: Abelia × grandiflora 'Confetti'
• Type: Semi-evergreen flowering shrub
• Mature Size: 3–4 ft tall × 4–5 ft wide
• Growth Rate: Moderate — 8–12 inches per year
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained; adaptable to clay, loam, or sandy soil
• Water: Moderate; drought tolerant once established
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6, 7, 8, 9

Growing Conditions

Soil Adaptability: Thrives in well-draining soils ranging from slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.5) including clay, loam, or sandy conditions. However, consistently moist but well-draining soil produces the best foliage color and avoid waterlogged conditions that can stress the plant.

Light Requirements: Performs best in full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours daily) with morning sun preferred for optimal variegation. In hot climates, some afternoon shade helps prevent leaf scorch while maintaining good flowering.

Hardiness: Hardy in USDA zones 6-9, making it suitable for most temperate and subtropical regions with some leaf drop expected in colder areas of its range.

Care Instructions

Watering: Water regularly during establishment and dry periods, though mature plants show good drought tolerance. Deep, infrequent watering promotes strong root development and better stress tolerance.

Pruning: Light pruning in late winter or early spring maintains shape and removes any winter-damaged growth. Can be shaped as desired, but avoid heavy pruning which reduces flowering potential.

Fertilizing: Apply balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring to encourage vigorous growth and abundant flowering throughout the season, though these adaptable shrubs perform well without heavy feeding.

Landscaping Uses

Versatile Applications: Confetti Abelia's versatility makes it suitable for: mixed shrub borders, foundation plantings, informal hedges, container gardening, butterfly gardens, slope stabilization, and transitional landscape areas.

Foundation Excellence: Its moderate size and multi-season interest make it ideal for foundation plantings where year-round structure is needed without overwhelming windows or architectural features.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far apart should I plant Confetti Abelia for an informal hedge? Plant 3-4 feet apart (center to center) for a continuous informal hedge that will fill in naturally, or 4-5 feet apart for individual specimens that maintain distinct shapes while creating flowing garden borders.

When does Confetti Abelia bloom and how long do the flowers last? Fragrant white flowers begin appearing in late spring and continue through fall (5-6 months), with peak blooming during summer months when the honey-scented flowers are most attractive to pollinators.

Does the variegated foliage hold its color year-round? The cream and green variegation is most pronounced during the growing season, intensifying to brilliant orange-red fall colors before becoming more subdued in winter, though some foliage typically persists in zones 7-9.