Fine Wine weigela

Sun

Full sun gives the darkest foliage and most flowers; tolerates partial shade with greener leaves and fewer blooms.

Water

Water regularly during the first growing season. Once established, water deeply during prolonged dry spells; avoid constantly wet soil.

Soil

Well-drained soil with moderate fertility; tolerates clay if drainage is adequate and a range from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Flowers

Pink, trumpet-shaped flowers in late spring to early summer; occasional scattered flowers may follow.

Foliage

Small, pointed, dark burgundy-purple leaves on densely branched stems; colour is strongest in sun. Leaves fall in autumn.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.8 ft (0.55 m)

3. After 2 years

   2 ft (0.6 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.1 ft (0.65 m)

5. After 5 years

   2.5 ft (0.75 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water deeply when the root zone starts to dry during the first growing season.
• Apply a 2-3 in (5-8 cm) layer of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Add compost in spring; use a balanced shrub fertiliser only if growth is weak or soil is poor.
• Allow room for its natural rounded shape rather than repeatedly shearing it.
• Keep the soil freely draining, especially during wet winters.

Pruning. Prune immediately after the main flowering, shortening wayward shoots and removing an occasional old stem at ground level if the shrub becomes congested. Remove dead or winter-damaged wood in spring, but avoid general autumn or early-spring pruning because it removes flower buds.

Spring

Plant when the soil is workable, water thoroughly, and mulch around the root zone.

Early spring

Check for winter damage and remove dead stems once live buds are visible.

Late spring

Check new shoots for aphids and dislodge small colonies with water.

Early summer

After the main flowering, lightly reshape only where needed.

Summer

Water young plants and established shrubs during prolonged drought.

Autumn

Plant in mild regions while the soil is still warm; avoid pruning off next year's flower buds.

• Place near the front of a sunny mixed border, where its dark leaves contrast with green foliage.
• Repeat in small groups along a path or foundation bed for a consistent, rounded shape.
• Pair with catmint or hardy geraniums to soften the shrub's base and extend the flowering season.
• Use as a compact foliage accent beside pale flowers or silver-leaved perennials.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Traditional, English country, Small-space, Pollinator garden and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Catmint, Hardy geranium, Lady's mantle, Lamb's ear, Salvia and Dwarf fountain grass.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees and, in North America, hummingbirds. The branches provide modest shelter for small garden wildlife.

• Aphids can cluster on young shoots; wash them off with water and preserve ladybirds and other predators.
• Spider mites may cause fine stippling during hot, dry weather; water the root zone well and rinse leaf undersides.
• Poor flowering often follows shade or pruning at the wrong time; provide more sun and prune only after the main bloom.
• Waterlogged soil can cause root decline and dieback; improve drainage or move the shrub to a better-drained position.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses; no plant part is recognised as seriously poisonous. It is an ornamental rather than an edible plant, and eating plant material may cause stomach upset.

• Wine & Roses weigela (Weigela florida 'Alexandra')

  Also has dark foliage and pink flowers, but usually grows substantially taller and broader, with larger leaves.

• Midnight Wine weigela (Weigela florida 'Elvera')

  Forms a much lower, spreading mound, commonly around 1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m) tall, and often flowers less freely.

Weigela honours German botanist Christian Ehrenfried Weigel, florida means abundantly flowering, and Fine Wine refers to the foliage colour.

Propagation. Take softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer, or layer a low branch. Seedlings will not reliably retain the cultivar's compact habit and foliage colour; check local plant-protection restrictions before propagating.

Accepted botanical name

Weigela florida

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

China North-Central, China Southeast, Inner Mongolia, Japan, Korea, Manchuria and Primorye.

Measured

Average height 300 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.