<em>Weigelia</em>: to plant, to grow, to prune

Description and use

Weigelia (Weigela in Latin) is a bush from the Far East (north‑east China, Korea and Japan), introduced to Europe in the 1840s. It belongs to the family Caprifoliaceae, like honeysuckle. The genus Weigela comprises around a dozen species, but many cultivars were raised by the prolific and extraordinary Victor Lemoine around 1865.

This bush has a spreading habit with branches that arch elegantly under the weight of the flowers. Leaves are opposite, sessile, elliptical with an acuminate apex. Leaf margin is crenate. Foliage is deciduous and pubescent, most often green, but there are varieties, for example variegated green and gold like W. florida ‘Magical Rainbow’ or purple‑leaved forms such as W. florida ‘Victoria’. Most display attractive autumn colours.

From May, a multitude of campanulate flowers spectacularly cover the branches. Weigela ‘All Summer Red’ bears bright red flowers and others are red‑pink as with W. florida ‘Moulin Rouge’. Pink is the most common colour, from pale to very intense shades. Some are almost bicoloured like the small W. florida ‘Polka’ while ‘Marjorie’ carries subtly shaded flowers. White is also represented, as in W. ‘Candida’ or the very modern W. ‘Ebony and Ivory’. The botanical variety, Weigela middendorffiana, has pale yellow flowers with an orange throat. Curiously, despite its originality, it is not widespread.

Flowers consist of petals forming a tube that opens into a funnel and are borne at the tips of current‑year shoots. They attract many pollinators.

Various colours of Weigela: ‘Bristol Ruby’, ‘Pink Poppet’ (photo PAP), ‘Carnaval’ (photo PAP), ‘Candida’, Weigela middendorffiana (photo Kor!An)

Weigela tolerates transplanting easily thanks to its shallow root system. In addition, it thrives in calcareous soil. Rapid growth is one of Weigela’s great assets, especially for a new garden. It can form an abundant bush; therefore, for a small garden favour smaller varieties such as Weigela ‘Nain rouge’. For a harmonious composition, adjust pruning of your bush to suit garden size. Of course, in a pretty pot, the small varieties will decorate a balcony or a moderately sunny terrace.

Uses of Weigela are very varied. The classic W. florida ‘Bristol Ruby’ can form a loose hedge with an indigo shrub, for example. The pinks of W. florida ‘Marjory’ will be set off by the purple flowers of the rose ‘Munstead Wood Ausbernard’, transforming a corner of the garden into a bohemian, romantic spot.

A rock garden can display its Weigela with the contrasting cultivar ‘Black and White’. This one can also form a beautiful border unless you prefer a variegated foliage like W. florida ‘Monet’.

Some Weigela foliage: variegated leaves of ‘Moulin Rouge’, ‘Milk and Honey’ and ‘Monet’ / dark foliage of ‘Alexandra’ / flamboyant autumn colours of ‘Wings of Fire’

Main Weigela varieties

Dwarf varieties

Medium-sized varieties

Large varieties

Weigela florida Pink Poppet

Very pretty variety with long pink flowering and green foliage that blazes purple and ochre in autumn. Perfect in a pot or at the base of a large bush, such as black elder 'Black Lace'.

• Flowering time June to November
• Height at maturity 1 m

See the product sheet

Weigela florida Monet Verweig

Flowers are purplish-pink and foliage green marginate with white, tinged with pink in spring. Perfect for a colourful border, at the base of large bushes or in a mixed bed with the small tousled heads of pink hybrid columbines 'Nora Barlow'.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 60 cm

See the product sheet

Weigela Ebony and Ivory

Its white flowering is beautifully highlighted by its dark purple foliage. In a mixed bed, pair it with a golden Choisya (Mexican orange blossom) and a mix of astrantias with deep red and white flowers.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 1,25 m

See the product sheet

Weigela florida Wings of Fire

What admirable foliage! From green at bud burst period, it turns deep red in summer, becoming orange in autumn. In a large pot, it will mark the seasons with flair.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 1,50 m

See the product sheet

Weigela Candida

This very handsome bush produces a very long white flowering over magnificent bright green foliage that turns orange then purplish-red in autumn! It can be planted singly, with spring bulbs at its base, or in an informal hedge.

• Flowering time June to August
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

Weigela Bristol Ruby

A reliable choice! Its vermilion flowering lasts for a very long time and its opulent habit has great presence. It forms beautiful flowering hedges with hawthorns, viburnums, paniculate hydrangeas... sowings of cosmos and marigolds will cheerfully dress the base of the hedge

• Flowering time July to October
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

Planting

Where to plant Weigelia

For abundant flowering, Weigelia performs best in full sun. It tolerates partial shade, especially in regions with scorching sun. It also adapts to winds that are not drying. In fact, any exposure without extremes suits it perfectly.

Soils matter little, provided they are rich in humus and not too dry to support flowering. Note that Weigelia adapts perfectly to calcareous soil.

Bear in mind the spread the bush will reach in 5–6 years once established: the largest varieties need 2 m of width to spread their branches! If space is limited, choose smaller varieties.

When to plant Weigelia

Autumn (October–November) is the preferred season for planting Weigelia. The still-warm soil encourages better establishment of the bush. Of course, the March–April period is also favourable for planting, but watering must be regular in the following summer.

Finally, a container-grown bush can be planted all year round, except during frost or drought.

How to plant Weigelia

Planting in the ground

• Immerse the container in a receptacle of water to thoroughly hydrate the root ball,
• Dig a hole 2 to 3 times the size of the root ball,
• Remove the bush from its pot and “dress” the root hairs: untangle the roots all around the root ball and cut damaged roots or those twisted on themselves,
• Fill the bottom of the hole with an equal mix of soil and potting compost (or compost). If your soil is very heavy, lay a layer of gravel or pumice first,
• Install the young plant, spreading the roots,
• Backfill the hole with the mixture,
• Check that the collar (point of junction between the roots and the trunk) is level with the soil surface,
• Form a rim of soil around the planting hole to create a basin that will retain the water,
• Firm down and water copiously to ensure the planting soil adheres to the root ball.

Planting in a pot

Choose small-growing varieties, such as the variegated Weigela florida ‘Monet’, W. ‘Black and White’ purple-green, W. ‘Pink Popett’ with lovely autumn colours…

A pot at least 50 cm high will do. Check there is a drainage hole.

• Create a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot with clay pebbles (for a balcony, avoid materials that make the pot too heavy),
• Fill with a mix of soil, potting compost or compost and sand (2/1) or a specialist potting compost for flowering bushes,
• Hydrate the root ball in water for at least 15 minutes,
• Place the root ball upright and fill with the mix or potting compost,
• Check the collar is not buried,
• Firm down and water thoroughly,
• Mulch to retain moisture.

→ Learn more with our care sheet: How to grow Weigelia in a pot?

Some Weigelia varieties display decorative foliage such as ‘Magical Rainbow’, ‘Nana Variegata’ or ‘Monet’

Care

In early season, an application of well-rotted manure or compost will improve appearance and flowering of Weigela. Lay a layer of BRF after fertilisation to help keep soil cool and conserve water in summer.

In autumn, a mulch of dead leaves will encourage formation of humus.

Pruning Weigela

At the end of flowering (around July–August), it is time to carry out maintenance pruning. This encourages vigorous development of branches that will bear the flower buds in autumn, to flower the following year.

• Cut branches from the centre of the clump and those that cross each other,
• Remove old branches,
• Cut back stems that have flowered by 10–20 cm. Prune above a shoot that grows outwards to open up the bush.

You can rejuvenate the bush by cutting back to 20 cm from ground level. Do this gently over several years: reduce one third of branches each year and you will have a brand-new bush in three years!

Pests and Diseases

Weigelas are susceptible to nematodes. To avoid infestation, prefer a well-drained soil at planting. Nearby, sow cosmos, flax, marigolds, which are well-known nematicides, as are heleniums, gaillardias and ornamental garlic…

A factsheet outlines different methods to get rid of harmful nematodes, and also how to use beneficial nematodes.

Aside from this weakness, Weigela is robust and hardy.

Propagation: propagate Weigela by cuttings

Propagation by cuttings is method of choice for Weigelia. Two periods are best: mid-August and during bush dormancy.

Propagation by cuttings of Weigelia in mid-August

• Take a 20 cm section from a summer-ripened shoot (semi-woody) with sharp, disinfected pruning shear,
• Remove leaves from base,
• Plant in bucket pre-filled with seed compost or a 50:50 seed compost–sand mix,
• Water,
• Cover with plastic bag, film or cloche to maintain humid atmosphere,
• Keep moist and ventilate once a day,
• When new leaves appear, repot your cutting and place in light shade.

Propagation from dormant wood

From late November onwards, take cuttings from wood in dormancy (from the famous 25 November!). Choose a site against a north-facing wall. Cuttings must be protected from direct sun and wind.

• Prepare a large pot or dig a small trench (jauge) and fill with equal parts soil, compost and sand (or seed and cutting compost),
• Take a length of current-year shoot around 30 cm,
• Cut at an angle at top above an eye, and at base below a node, to make a cutting about 20 cm long,
• Plant in the mix leaving at least 3 eyes exposed,
• Prick out in February–March into pots filled with soil, or a 1:1 mix of soil and compost,
• Place in light shade and water regularly,
• Plant out the following autumn.

→ Learn more in Servane’s tutorial: Propagate a Weigelia

Plant pairings for the garden

You can create an interesting border all year round by combining plants with several seasonal highlights. For example, choose a golden luzula with orange spikes that contrast with the purple of the foliage and the purplish-pink flowers of Weigela ‘Minor-Black’. Charming Cosmos ‘Xanthos’ in pale yellow, sown in April–May, will continue flowering and carry on into the September rebloom. Bergenia ‘Dragonfly Sakura’ foliage complements the bush’s bronze autumn leaves and its magnificent flowering will enliven the border from March. Small bulbs such as Cyclamen coum will show their pink-tinged wings in February.

A four-season planting idea: Weigela ‘Minor Black’, Cosmos ‘Xanthos’, Luzula sylvatica ‘Solar Flare’, pink Cyclamen coum, Bergenia ‘Dragonfly Sakura’ (©Terra Nova Nurseries)

A low mixed hedge around 1 m to 1.5 m can be created with W. ‘Milk and Honey’, so luminous and with beautiful autumn colours, alongside an indigo bush and a black physocarpus. A mahonia and a Mexican orange blossom will provide evergreen foliage…

A contemporary scene can be created with a Weigelia ‘Ebony and Ivory’ with a compact, rounded habit whose base is lit by a charming tiarella with variegated foliage. White alliums add verticality and contrast with the weigelia’s trumpet-shaped flowers. A Japanese spindle, a small green-and-white ball, and a white Persicaria will provide the counterpoint.

An example of a contemporary planting combination: Weigela florida ‘Ebony and Ivory’, Tiarella ‘Running Tiger’, Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Alba’, Euonymus japonicus ‘Pierrolino’ and Allium ‘Mount Everest’ (photo Patrick Standish)

→ Discover other Weigelia pairings for the garden in our advice sheet!

Did you know?

Weigela was first described by Philipp Franz Siebold in his Flora Japonica (1833–1850). Its name honours the German chemist and botanist Christian von Weigel (1748–1831).

It is believed to have been introduced into Europe by Robert Fortune around 1842. This Scottish botanist is known for stealing the secret of tea manufacture from China, as well as young tea plants, during his remarkable expedition from 1848 to 1852. He recorded his adventures in a book which you can find on Gallica at the BnF: Gallica at the BnF.