Abelia Vanilla Brandy from First Editions® is one of the most reliable, eye‑catching shrubs you can grow. Its crisp green-and-white variegated foliage looks beautiful in every season, even when weather spoils the flowers of other plants. As the year progresses, the leaves take on soft pink and rose tones, highlighted by bright red stems that glow in autumn and winter.
In this video, David Wilson from Overdevest Nurseries reveals why Vanilla Brandy is such a valuable shrub for modern gardens. You’ll see how its lightly fragrant white tubular flowers appear on new growth from late spring or early summer all the way into autumn, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. You’ll also learn why deer seldom bother with it, how to plant and care for it, and how well it responds to light trimming.
David also shares the fascinating story of its chance discovery in the Vince Dooley Tribute Garden at the University of Georgia — a moment that led to the development of this compact, beautifully variegated variety.
Find beautiful, healthy, ready‑to‑plant Vanilla Brandy Abelias at a partnering garden center near you:
https://grownbyoverdevest.com/retail-locator/
🌿 What You’ll Learn
Why variegated foliage makes this shrub shine in any weather
How Vanilla Brandy blooms for months with lightly fragrant flowers
Its value for butterflies and hummingbirds
Why deer seldom browse Abelia
How to plant, water, and establish it for long-term success
How to trim it in spring to keep it neat and vigorous
How it performs in sun or partial shade
The story of its discovery in the Vince Dooley Tribute Garden
🌸 Key Features at a Glance
Crisp green-and-white variegated foliage
Pink and rose tones in autumn
Bright red stems for winter interest
Lightly fragrant white tubular flowers
Blooms late spring through autumn
Compact, mounded habit
Evergreen to semi-evergreen in Zones 6–9
Deer resistant and pollinator friendly
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