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Key characteristics

Family: Caprifoliaceae
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Width: 3 to 4 feet
Flower color: Small, tubular white flowers surrounded by pinkish-red calyces
Foliage color: Variegated leaves with golden yellow edges and green centers in spring and summer, turning orange and red in fall
Bloom time: Late spring to fall
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low; light pruning to shape in late winter or after flowering
Growing zone: USDA Zones 6 to 9
Wildlife: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds

Shrubs

Abelia x grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope'

Kaleidoscope Glossy Abelia

Abelia x grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope' is a vibrant, semi-evergreen shrub renowned for its ever-changing foliage and delicate flowers. The variegated leaves emerge in spring with shades of green and yellow, transitioning to golden hues with orange and red tints as autumn approaches. From late spring through fall, it produces small, fragrant, trumpet-shaped white flowers that provide a soft contrast to its colorful foliage.

This cultivar is a variant of Abelia x grandiflora, bred for its unique, year-round display of foliage color and extended bloom time.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Late spring to fall

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Containers
Foundation Plantings
Pollinator Gardens

Companion plants

Thyme · Switch grasses · Catmint · Penstemons · Coreopsis · Blanket flower

Design tip

Position this compact shrub near patios or along walkways where repeated groupings can unify the planting while drawing attention to key garden spaces. Combine it with bold foliage and upright forms to create contrast, strengthen composition, and maintain visual interest throughout the seasons.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)