Plant This Fast-Growing Perennial For A Yard Bursting With Sweet Scent

Few plants combine speed, scent, and staying power quite like glossy abelia (Abelia 'Edward Goucher'). This fast-growing perennial sends out clusters of pinkish-lavender blooms from summer into fall, filling the air with a light, jasmine-adjacent sweet scent. It's the kind of flower that attracts pollinators, so expect to see bees and butterflies weaving through its branches all season long. The effect is an easy wave of color and perfume that feels far more luxurious than the effort it takes to grow.

Glossy abelia is suited to USDA hardiness zones 6 through 9, where it can be semi-evergreen or even fully evergreen in milder winters. It prefers full sun but will tolerate some shade. Once it settles in, this is one of those drought-resistant plants that will thrive without much water. Compact at about 2 to 5 feet tall and wide, it earns a spot in nearly any yard. Its arching shape lends itself to use as a relaxed hedge, a graceful border plant, or a standalone specimen that offers interest from several angles. As the season cools, its glossy leaves shift toward bronze and purple tones, giving you an added splash of fall color. This delightful perennial fits seamlessly into a variety of garden spaces.

When planting glossy abelia, dig a hole roughly two to three times the width of the root ball. Space the shrubs 3 to 5 feet apart for hedges, mass plantings, or screens, giving the arching form room to develop naturally without crowding its neighbors. It's happy in clay, loam, or sandy soil; just make sure it drains well. Soil should be slightly acidic to neutral, around pH 6.0 to 7.0, the sweet spot for most garden plants. If you're not sure where your soil falls, take a moment to measure its PH; it only takes a few minutes and helps your abelia get off to the best start.

During the first season, water deeply once or twice a week so the roots settle in. After that, glossy abelia transitions into an easy-care, drought-resistant plant that will thrive without much water. A late-winter trim removes damaged or crowded branches, opening up the plant to sunlight and airflow. Because it blooms on new wood, pruning won't cut off future flowers. With minimal effort, you maintain a tidy shape, encourage fresh growth, and keep that signature jasmine-adjacent sweet scent flowing through your garden. Fast-growing, perennial, and endlessly charming, it delivers color, structure, and pollinator appeal all season long, turning any yard into a sweet-scented showstopper with minimal fuss. This is a flower that even the worst gardeners can handle.