Zabelia tyaihyoni, fragrant abelia, catches the attention of arboretum visitors every spring with its floral display. In early May it produces an abundance of pink flower buds that open to white. While the flowers are beautiful, the fragrance produced by the flowers is what draws people in. The pleasantly strong fragrance resembles that of Korean spice
viburnum. This unique plant has an interesting story.
Perhaps you know this plant as Abelia mosanensis. However, the name was changed to Zabelia tyaihyoni in 2020 based on genetic evidence. Once considered part of Abelia, it's now recognized as distinct enough to warrant its own genus within a separate subfamily of the Caprifoliaceae. The genus Zabelia was first published in 1911 as a section within Abelia, honoring German dendrologist Hermann Zabel — and because that name predates Abelia's, Zabelia takes taxonomic precedence. The plant was first described in 1921 by Japanese botanist, Takenoshin Nakai. He gave it the specific epithet, tyaihyoni, to commemorate Tyai-Hyon Chung, the first Korean plant taxonomist who published the plant as Abelia mosanensis five years after Nakai.
Zabelia tyaihyoni, is endangered in its native range in the Korean peninsula, though no data exists on its status in North Korea. Despite being endangered, there are no domestic efforts to conserve the plant, alhough efforts have been made from botanical institutions around the world to conserve Zabelia ex situ, including by the Arnold Arboretum and Holden
Arboretum, which accessioned a plant from a 1989 Korea expedition. However, correspondence with Ethan Johnson at Holden later revealed the plant was actually Zabelia integrifolia, not Z. tyaihyoni as originally thought. Its route to cultivation ran through Soviet-era Latvia. After the Iron Curtain lifted, the plants in Latvia became the source of the remaining plants in cultivation. The Arnold Arboretum obtained seed through Index Seminum in 2003, but the seed came from plants in Latvia. Currently, every plant in cultivation has come from one plant.
In the trade several clones are available, but all are thought to be the same plant which collectors obtained from Latvia. In 1999, Tim Wood (Spring Meadow Nursery) obtained plants by chance from a Latvian nurseryman he met in Germany.
Zabelia tyaihyoni, cold hardy to zone 3, is easy to grow. It can be grown on a range of soils, from acidic to alkaline, from well-drained to average garden soil. Furthermore, it can be grown in part shade but develops the best flowering display and fall color in full sun. Fall color is red, orange, and yellow. The plant has the potential to rival Viburnum carlesii. If you plant it, expect it to reach 8-10’ tall and 6-8’ wide. In the Secrest collection you can find the species and two selections, Sweet Emotion® and Sweet Emotion Blaze® (both are listed as smaller than the species — though given how little genetic diversity exists in cultivation, we have our suspicions). Our largest, and most spectacular specimen is located behind the bur oak which stands at the corner of Green Drive and the Million Flower Pathway.
Zabelia tyaihyoni was selected as a 2026 Secrest Select plant due to its performance in Secrest Arboretum, multi-season interest, and stunning floral display.
–Paul Snyder, Operations Manager snyder.1062@osu.edu