Abelia

A beautiful medium-sized July and October flowering shrub, slow-growing and ideal for smaller gardens. Plants are evergreen in mild winters, but need protection from hard frosts. In really exposed sites plants can be cut down in autumn and then insulated with a 15cm (6in) mulch of bark, cleared away again in early spring or they may be left to take their chance, cutting them down in March if damaged over winter. In areas that do not have such a harsh climate plants should be pruned in April to remove any dead or damaged wood. The soft pink flowers are lightly fragrant and are produced from June until October. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Looks good with:

Cotinus 'Grace'
Heuchera micrantha var. diversifolia 'Palace Purple'