This variety of glossy abelia is a rounded hardy shrub which can be grown into a particularly striking informal hedge its semi45evergreen foliage retains its green colouring until the autumn when the oval leaves acquire a bronze hue however it is the lilac45pink flowers that appear in july that arguably make abelia 39edward goucher39 most deserving of its rhs agm 40award of garden merit41 these tubular blooms are sure to enrich any cottage garden with their delicate peta