New Abelia for the Landscape
New cultivars are in constant demand by the nursery and landscape industries. Of particular interest are plants that are drought tolerant, pest resistant, low maintenance, and perform well under a variety of landscape conditions. A long-term breeding program to develop improved landscape plants with adaptability to the environment is ongoing at the University of Georgia. 'Lavender Mist' is a new abelia cultivar that has recently been released from this program. It is a heavy and fragrant bloomer, with clusters of lavender flowers forming in mid-June, and continuing into autumn. This new cultivar will benefit nurseries that produce it, as new cultivars result in increased sales. Consumers will benefit because it is a novel and attractive abelia, with drought and heat tolerance, and resistance to insect pests and diseases. New cultivars of abelia and other tough landscape plants benefit urban environments due to decrease in landscape water needs and pesticide use.