Abelia Grandiflora ‘Francis Mason’

Description

Francis Mason Abelia
Abelia × grandiflora ‘Francis Mason’
Growing Conditions
SUNLIGHT
Full sun to light shade; best golden-yellow foliage colour develops in full sun
WATERING
Twice weekly during establishment, then weekly in summer; reduce to every 10-14 days in winter; prefers deep watering of 15-20 litres per session
SOIL TYPE
Well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 6.0-7.0) enriched with compost; tolerates clay if drainage is improved
TEMPERATURE
Tolerates -5°C to 38°C; frost-hardy once established
HUMIDITY
Adaptable to both humid summer rainfall regions and drier conditions; benefits from occasional misting in very hot, dry Western Cape summers
FERTILISING
Apply slow-release balanced fertilizer (3:1:5) in early spring and mid-summer; supplement with liquid feed monthly during active growth
GROWTH RATE
Moderate to fast; grows 30-40 cm per year when young, reaching mature size in 3-4 years
MATURE SIZE
1.2-1.5 metres height × 1.0-1.2 metres spread
Indoor Suitability
This vigorous shrub requires full sun to maintain its distinctive golden foliage and compact form, making it unsuitable for indoor cultivation. It also needs excellent air circulation and seasonal temperature fluctuations to thrive.
Did You Know?
The ‘Francis Mason’ cultivar was discovered as a sport mutation in a New Zealand nursery in the 1980s and is actually more cold-hardy than its parent Abelia × grandiflora, making it one of the few golden-variegated shrubs that reliably maintains colour through South African winters without reverting to green.