Abelia mosanensis Sweet Emotion

The Abelia mosanensis 'Sweet Emotion' is a new American variety, exceptional for the enchanting scent of jasmine from its spring flowers, and for its remarkable hardiness. It is an improvement of the species A. mosanensis, native to Korea, with early flowering and a more pronounced scent than other Abelia species. Still little known and cultivated, this deciduous shrub is nevertheless one of the most cold-resistant in the Abelia genus. From the end of May, it offers a multitude of pink buds that open into tubular white flowers, sometimes speckled with pink. They have beautiful shiny green foliage that takes on beautiful red-orange autumn colours. This Abelia deserves a small place in the garden, in a flowering hedge or in a grove.

Like all Abelia, and also honeysuckles and Kolkwitzia amabilis, Abelia mosanensis 'Sweet Emotion' belongs to the caprifoliaceae family. The habit of this shrub is both bushy and spreading, flexible and dense. Its growth is quite fast, depending on the growing conditions. At maturity, this Abelia will reach an average height of 1.70m with the same spread. It forms its flower buds in autumn and blooms in spring. Flowering occurs between April and June depending on the climate, on one-year-old and older branches. The deep pinkish-red buds open into small tubular flowers, randomly speckled with white and pink, 2cm (0.8in) long, grouped in panicles at the axils of the leaves. The flowers release a powerful scent of jasmine, with sweet and spicy notes, which attracts many pollinating insects. The branches of the fragrant Abelia bear small, shiny, medium green leaves, opposite in pairs, entire and ovate in shape. They take on pretty red-orange hues in autumn and persist until early winter, as long as the frosts are not too severe. Note that this Korean Abelia prefers soils that remain moist, humus-rich, slightly acidic to neutral.

'Sweet Emotion' Abelia is a remarkably flowering and fragrant shrub that deserves to be discovered. Its hardiness is excellent in well-drained soil, its growth is moderate, and it has a unique personality that will leave a mark on the garden. Its regular yet flexible habit allows it to be planted in a flowering hedge alongside buddleias, kolwitzia, mock oranges, Syringa microphylla 'Superba' and other ceanothus, or in the middle of autumn flower beds, paired with asters, Japanese anemones, tricyrtis, etc. It will work wonders in an ericaceous border with rhododendrons and Pieris. 'Sweet Emotion' also thrives in a large pot, which can be placed on the terrace to fill the spring evenings with fragrance.