My Monet weigela

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; give afternoon shade in hot climates to reduce leaf scorch. Heavy shade reduces flowering and can weaken growth.

Water

Keep evenly moist while establishing. Once rooted, water deeply during dry spells; container plants need more frequent checks.

Soil

Moist but well-drained soil, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. Avoid waterlogged ground and very dry, shallow soil.

Height

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m)

Spread

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m)

Flowers

Pink, funnel-shaped flowers in late spring to early summer; flowering can be sparse on young plants.

Foliage

Small green leaves with irregular creamy-white margins and pink flushing, especially on new growth; deciduous.

Growth

Slow

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Cold hardy
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

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

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

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

1. Planting day

   1.2 ft (0.38 m)

   full size

About 8 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

Slow

• Water at soil level when the root zone begins to dry, especially during the first growing season.
• Apply a thin layer of compost in spring; use a balanced shrub fertiliser only if growth is weak.
• Mulch with 2 in (5 cm) of organic material, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Use a container with drainage holes and protect its root ball from severe winter freezing.
• Remove any entirely green shoots at their point of origin so they do not overtake the variegated growth.

Pruning. Prune only if needed, immediately after flowering, shortening stray shoots lightly. Remove dead wood in spring and avoid routine shearing or autumn pruning, which removes next year's flower buds.

Early spring

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

Spring

Plant into well-drained soil, water thoroughly and mulch around the root zone.

Late spring

Enjoy the flowers and check new growth for aphids or entirely green shoots.

Early summer

After flowering, lightly shorten any shoots that spoil the compact outline.

Summer

Water during dry spells and watch for scorched leaf margins in exposed, hot positions.

Late autumn

Move containers to a sheltered position in cold regions and check that drainage holes remain clear.

• Place at the front of a mixed border where its small, patterned leaves remain visible.
• Repeat along a short path as a low, informal edging rather than a clipped hedge.
• Grow in a patio container with low-growing companions that will not crowd it.
• Pair with dark-leaved heucheras or green sedges to contrast with the cream and pink foliage.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Traditional, Modern courtyard, Small-space, Pastel border and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Heuchera, Japanese sedge, Creeping phlox, Dwarf catmint, Hardy geranium and Dwarf spring daffodils.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for bees and, in North America, may attract hummingbirds. Its small size and sometimes sparse flowering limit its value compared with larger flowering shrubs.

• Leaf scorch: hot afternoon sun, drying winds or drought can brown the pale leaf margins; provide afternoon shade and steady moisture.
• Poor flowering: deep shade or pruning after midsummer removes or limits flower buds; improve light and prune only just after flowering.
• Root decline in wet soil: improve drainage or move to a raised bed; do not leave containers standing in water.
• Aphids on tender shoots: rinse off with water, preserving ladybirds and other natural predators.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No part is recognised as poisonous, but it is not an edible plant and eating plant material may cause mild stomach upset.

• Variegated weigela (Weigela florida 'Variegata')

  Also has cream-edged leaves and pink flowers, but grows into a much larger, arching shrub rather than a tiny mound.

• My Monet Sunset weigela (Weigela florida 'Sunset')

  Has predominantly golden to yellow-green foliage that develops orange and red tones, rather than the distinct cream-edged leaves of 'Verweig'.

Weigela honours the German botanist Christian Ehrenfried Weigel, and florida means abundantly flowering.

Propagation. Root softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer to retain the named cultivar's characteristics; seedlings will not come true. Check local plant breeders' rights 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.