Gold with a refined finish
The foliage is intensely luminous, yet the small scale of each leaf keeps the display fine rather than heavy.
Abelia 'Gold Spot'® 3lt
Normal price
€12,00
What does the legal guarantee mean for plants?
The legal guarantee concerns the plant’s conformity at delivery. It is not a guarantee of survival or growth for two years. Each issue is assessed taking into account the nature of the plant, its care and the conditions in which it is kept. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
Abelia × grandiflora ‘Gold Spot’®
Golden-green foliage, an airy form and flowering in no hurry to end ✨
- Golden-yellow foliage
- Soft pink to white flowers
- Naturally arching form
- Summer-to-autumn flowering
Abelia × grandiflora ‘Gold Spot’® brings a warm glow through small glossy leaves with broad golden margins. Spring growth is particularly bright, while the foliage develops more green and a quieter tone as summer progresses. Slender shoots arch outwards, allowing the crown to open naturally. Small white flowers flushed with pink add delicate detail in the warmer season, but the changing gold-and-green foliage remains the main attraction rather than a solid covering of blooms.
Its natural crown opens in gentle curves, softening hard lines, stone surfaces and contemporary pots. In a border it works as a luminous middle layer, in a group it creates a golden rhythm, and as a single shrub it draws the eye where there is room for its mature crown.
What makes it special
Its strength lies in the connection between colour, fine texture and a long season of interest.
Delicate pink-white flowers
Small flowers appear among the gold-and-green leaves. Flowering intensity varies; a dense covering over the entire crown should not be expected.
A form that softens space
Lightly arching stems break up hard lines and introduce natural flow into contemporary or Mediterranean-style planting.
Why you will love it: It is an easy way to add lasting light and seasonal flowering without overcrowding the composition.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations Golden middle layer
Golden middle layer
Give it the middle layer of a bright border and room for arching branches. It is not permanently miniature: growth in a pot or during the early years does not represent its eventual size in the ground.
Compatible planting
Golden-yellow foliage gains depth beside purple, charcoal and silver-green tones. Choose companions for sun, well-drained soil and moderate moisture.
- Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum — creates a deep burgundy contrast behind the golden foliage in sun or bright partial shade and well-drained soil
- Salvia nemorosa — adds clear purple flower spikes and a similarly long season of value in the sunny part of the scheme
- Oenothera lindheimeri — brings airy white-pink movement between the stems and suits a bright position with good drainage
Care at a glance
Light
Full sun to bright partial shade; plentiful sun keeps the foliage golden and supports flowering.
Watering
Water when the upper soil dries, always allowing surplus water to drain completely.
Climate & hardiness
Semi-evergreen in mild regions; it may lose leaves or tender tips in severe cold, especially in an exposed position.
Safety
An ornamental plant, not intended for consumption. Discourage children and pets from chewing foliage or flowers, and seek professional advice if a quantity is ingested.
Detailed careComplete care guideLight, soil, container planting, watering, feeding, pruning and winter behaviour
Light & exposure
Choose full sun or bright partial shade. Sun supports stronger flowering and clearer foliage colour; in very hot, reflective sites in southern Greece, some afternoon shade helps reduce leaf scorch.
Planting in the ground
Plant in fertile, well-drained soil, keeping the crown level with the surrounding ground. ‘Gold Spot’ needs room for its broad crown to develop; do not use the young plant’s small size to judge a narrow planting space. Avoid positions where water collects.
Growing in a pot
Use a roomy outdoor pot with unobstructed drainage holes and a good-quality growing medium. Check moisture more often in summer, as the root zone dries faster than it does in open ground.
Watering & establishment
Water thoroughly when the upper layer of soil has dried, allowing surplus water to drain away. Monitor more closely during the first establishment period; once settled, it tolerates short dry spells but flowers more generously with even moisture.
Feeding & flowering
A light spring application of balanced fertiliser is usually sufficient in ordinary soil. ‘Gold Spot’ is chiefly valued for its foliage and flowers more modestly than other abelias; extra feeding does not guarantee more flowers. Avoid excessive nitrogen.
Pruning & winter
Flowers are carried on new growth. Remove dead, weak or crossing stems in late winter or very early spring and shape only lightly. Greater leaf loss is normal in cold or exposed positions.
Development over timeGrowth and seasonal habitBroad arching shoots
Settling into position
After planting, it may direct energy into roots before producing strong top growth. Steady but not excessive moisture supports establishment.
Building the curve
New stems lengthen and bend lightly outwards, creating the soft, open silhouette that defines the cultivar.
Mature glow
Over time, arching branches form a broader crown. Flowers remain a modest detail among the leaves, while summer greening and winter bronze tones change the intensity of the gold.
Mature habit & dimensions
in the groundHeight 1.5–2.5 mSpread 1.5–2.5 mBroad arching shoots
Several woody stems begin low down and arch outwards. Golden margins on small leaves, rather than a dense mass of flowers, provide the main brightness.
Form through time
two viewsFoliage and flowers
Before floweringGold-and-green foliage forms the main surface.
FloweringTubular flowers at the ends of leafy shoots.
Foliage remains the focus of ‘Gold Spot’, which generally flowers more modestly than other abelias. Summer greening is natural, and severe cold may cause some leaf loss.
Mature scale: 1.5–2.5 m high and 1.5–2.5 m wide. Eventual growth depends on soil, microclimate and available space.
History & origin Cultivar origin A golden sport of ‘Francis Mason’
The story of ‘Gold Spot’ begins with Abelia × grandiflora ‘Francis Mason’, the gold-variegated selection raised at Mason’s Nurseries in New Zealand in the early 1950s.
‘Gold Spot’ subsequently arose as a sport of ‘Francis Mason’: a distinct shoot retained for its golden foliage. Its own original selector and selection date are not securely established. Broad golden margins and a tendency to green through summer distinguish it from other yellow-leaved abelias.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
What is a sport?
A sport is a shoot that differs from the plant carrying it. If the trait persists through vegetative propagation, it can become a separate cultivar without a new cross. This is the relationship between ‘Gold Spot’ and ‘Francis Mason’.
Frequently asked questions
Answers about foliage colour, sunlight, flowering, pots and pruning.
01How golden will the foliage remain?
Intensity depends on light and season. Golden-yellow tones dominate in a bright position, while more green may appear in partial shade.
02Will it tolerate strong midday sun?
It tolerates sun, but in exceptionally hot reflective sites in southern Greece, some afternoon shade reduces the risk of leaf scorch.
03When do the flowers appear?
Flowering usually develops from summer and may continue into autumn, depending on light, moisture and temperature.
04Can I grow it in a pot?
Yes, in a roomy outdoor pot with free drainage. Its golden foliage makes it particularly effective as a luminous feature on a terrace.
05Does it need frequent clipping?
No. Remove dead or weak stems and shape selectively before spring growth. Frequent uniform clipping spoils the natural arching outline.
06Why are some areas turning greener?
Summer greening is natural in ‘Gold Spot’, and lower light can also increase green colour. An entirely green, especially vigorous shoot that remains clearly different from the rest of the crown may be a reversion; in that case, remove it at its point of origin.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.