Weigela

Sun

Full sun for the most flowers; tolerates partial shade but flowers less freely.

Water

Moderate; water deeply during establishment and prolonged dry spells. Established shrubs tolerate brief dry periods.

Soil

Moist but well-drained soil, including clay that does not stay waterlogged; tolerates a broad pH range.

Height

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m); compact cultivars can be much smaller.

Spread

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m); check the cultivar's mature width.

Flowers

Late spring to early summer; the species has rose-pink flowers, often paler inside. Cultivars may flower white, pink or red, and some repeat lightly later in summer.

Foliage

Opposite, pointed oval leaves with toothed edges, usually green. Cultivars may have purple, gold or cream-variegated foliage; autumn colour is usually modest.

Growth

Moderate to fast in suitable conditions.

Care needed

Low

• Water deeply through the first growing season whenever the root zone starts to dry.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed lightly with a balanced shrub fertiliser in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor.
• Allow room for the mature arching branches rather than repeatedly clipping them to fit.
• Keep the root zone well drained, especially during winter.

Pruning. Prune immediately after the main flowering flush, shortening flowered shoots to a strong side shoot if needed. On established, crowded shrubs, remove up to one-third of the oldest stems at ground level; winter or early-spring pruning removes much of the coming flower display.

Early spring

Check for winter damage and remove clearly dead stems once buds begin to show.

Spring

Plant container-grown shrubs, water thoroughly and refresh mulch.

Late spring

Enjoy the main flowering display; avoid trimming shoots before they finish blooming.

Early summer

Prune after the main flowering flush and thin old stems if the shrub is crowded.

Summer

Water during prolonged drought and take softwood cuttings from healthy, non-flowering shoots.

Autumn

Plant where winters are mild and soil remains workable; water new plants until established.

• Use in an informal flowering hedge where its arching branches have room to develop.
• Place behind hardy geraniums and catmint in a mixed border for a late-spring flower display.
• Use purple-leaved cultivars beside green foliage for season-long contrast.
• Grow compact cultivars near paths or in smaller borders, selecting by mature size rather than pruning a large plant to fit.

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

Plant it with: Hardy geraniums, Catmint, Peonies, Lady's mantle, Salvia and Mock orange.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for bees and other insects, and attract hummingbirds where these occur in North America. Dense branches can provide shelter for small birds.

• Poor flowering: move to a sunnier position if heavily shaded, avoid excess nitrogen and prune only after the main bloom.
• Aphids on soft shoots: wash off with water and encourage ladybirds and other predators; use insecticidal soap if an infestation persists.
• Leaf spots in damp conditions: remove fallen affected leaves, water at soil level and thin crowded growth to improve airflow.
• Root decline in waterlogged soil: improve drainage or relocate the shrub; do not keep watering already saturated ground.

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

• Beauty bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis)

  Also has arching branches and pink flowers, but its flowers usually have conspicuous yellow-orange throat markings and are followed by bristly, hairy seed capsules.

• Bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)

  Has smaller yellow flowers that age orange or reddish, generally blooms later, and spreads by suckers to form colonies.

• Glossy abelia (Abelia × grandiflora)

  Has smaller, glossy leaves and smaller white to pale-pink flowers over a longer summer-to-autumn season; reddish sepals remain after the flowers fall.

Weigela honours the German botanist Christian Ehrenfried Weigel, while florida means profusely flowering and does not refer to the US state.

Propagation. Take softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer, or hardwood cuttings after leaf fall. Layering low branches is also reliable. Seed-grown plants may differ from the parent; use vegetative propagation to preserve cultivar characteristics.

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.