Stephen Albert
Weigela is a free-flowing deciduous shrub noted for its bell to funnel-shaped, rosy pink flowers that appear in late spring. Some weigela cultivars bear red, white, or yellow flowers.
Weigela is suitable for mixed or shrub borders or for woodland gardens. The flowers attract hummingbirds.
Weigela is a genus of 12 species of mostly spreading to upright deciduous shrubs found in scrub and woodland margins in Eastern Asia.
Get to Know Weigela
- Plant type: Deciduous late spring and summer-blooming shrub
- Growing Zones and range: 4-9
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Height and width: 6 to 9 feet (1.8-2.7m) tall, 9 to 12 feet (2.7-3.4m) wide
- Foliage: Oblong or ovate toothed leaves
- Flowers: Pink, red, or white bell- to funnel-shaped blooms
- Bloom time: Summer
- Uses: Shrub border, mass plantings
- Common name: Weigela
- Botanical name: Weigela florida
- Family: Caprifoliaceae
- Origin: Woodland margins East Asia
Where to Plant Weigela
- Plant weigela in full sun to light shade.
- Grow weigela in cool, deep, humus-rich, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil. Weigela tolerates poor soil.
When to Plant Weigela
- Set weigela in the garden in spring or fall. Work aged compost into the soil at planting time.
Planting and Spacing Weigela
- Space weigela 9 to 12 feet (2.7-3.6m) apart.
How to Water and Feed Weigela
- Weigela needs moderate moisture; established plants will tolerate drought.
- Weigela does not need fertilizer.
Weigela Care
- Mulch around weigela to conserve soil moisture.
- Prune Weigela after flowering. Remove branches that have flowered to ground level to keep the shrub blooming and maintain shape.
- Weigela is usually pest and disease-free.
Weigela Common Problems
- Japanese beetles and scale insects can attack weigela.
- Verticillium wilt and twig dieback can be a problem.
Weigela Propagation
- Sow Weigela seed in containers in autumn.
- Root Weigela greenwood cuttings in early summer; root semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer.
- Start Weigela hardwood cuttings from autumn to winter.
Weigela Varieties to Grow
- ‘Bristol Ruby’ has ruby-red flowers.
- ‘Bristol Snowflake’ has white flowers tinged with pink.
- ‘Candida’ has pure white flowers.
- ‘Eva Supreme’ is a dwarf with deep red flowers.
- ‘Foliis Purpureis’ is a dwarf form with purplish foliage.
- ‘Variegata’ has pale yellow-edged leaves.
- ‘Java Red’, ‘Variegata Nana’, ‘Minuet’, and ‘Tango’ grow under 4 feet tall.
