It is cold hardy here, tolerant of our summer heat, grows happily in alkaline clay soil and will survive the summer with no extra water. It thrives in full sun or part shade. It has no pests or diseases worth mentioning.
It is evergreen, although the foliage changes color in the fall to a deep bronze-red. In the spring, it is covered with small white or pale-pink flowers that are sweetly scented, and new flowers continue to open for six to eight months, until midfall. The flowers are intensely attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators, adding a second dimension of color and life to the landscape.

The glossy abelia, or simply abelia (Abelia × grandiflora), is a hybrid plant that can be found in old gardens across North Texas. It is the lucky product of a union between two species, A. chinensis and A. uniflora. That is why the multiplication symbol appears in its scientific name.

https://www.dallasnews.com/life/home/2011/04/20/abelias-the-best-plant-for-dallas-that-nobody-uses