Abelia Tips: How to get it very large?

I just bought an Abelia. I planted it along a fence line. I would like it to grow as large as possible to add some privacy between me & the neighbor. I know with weed, if you cut the tips off it will sprout 2+ new branches/canes. Does this concept work w/ flowering bushes and/or trees? The gardener I bought it from said it should grow 6' tall, but w/ research I've found that it can grow up to 12' tall. I'd like to get it about 8'. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.