"Semi-evergreen" basically means that it may or may not
stay evergreen depending on the severity of the winter
and/or it's access to nutrients/water during the season.
Looking at my Abelia grandiflora just outside the window
here, it is essentially "nude" (a few brown, shriveled
leaves remaining), but then, we had a particularly intense
(freeze/thaw) winter, so I am not surprised. The shrub,
however, is fully hardy in Zone 6, and will be fully
leafed-out by May and soon thereafter dripping with small, fragrant blooms for most of the summer. It's one of my
favorite shrubs for tough spots - it will bloom and thrive
in partial shade, and actually survive in FULL shade! -
but it would not be a wise choice if you want truly evergreen. The straight Abelia x grandiflora can get quite
large (8' or more) in a sunny spot, but is absolutely
prunable - and really should be. . .many of the cultivars
are much more modest in height, but not as adaptable to
shade.

Off the top of my head, I know of at least 7 nurseries in NJ that carry Abelia, and there are dozens more throughout
the state - when shopping for shrubs, I would suggest that HD and Lowe's are not the best place to start (although I DO get shrubs there at the end of the season sell-offs!) You are simply NOT saving money by buying there, and the quality and choice is severely limited. . .

Carl

Here is a link that might be useful: Missouri Botanical Garden / Plantfinder

Sorry I wasn't more specific in my reply (above), but I've
peeled back "the top of my head" and here's where I found
various forms of Abelia grandiflora:

RareFind Nursery (Jackson)
Ambleside Gardens and Nursery (Belle Meade)
Pope's Gardens (Waterford)
Seper's Nursery (Newfield)
Triple Oaks Nursery & Herb Garden (Franklinville)
Fairweather Gardens (Greenwich)
Sickles Market (Little Silver)
Kale's Nursery (Princeton)

And when I suggest there are dozens of others in the State, I mean that I know I've spotted it many other
places but just can't nail them down - it actually
wouldn't surprise me if some of the larger, better stocked
Lowe's and HD might have them, because not every branch
nursery of the "box stores" has exactly the same things...

Carl