Weigela florida Minor Black

Weigela Minor Black is a recent dwarf variety of Weigela that is floriferous, remarkably colourful and particularly suited for small spaces and pot cultivation. Its foliage is dark, a deep purple-violet with chocolate hues, with a glossy finish, beautifully showcasing its abundant flowering in the form of small bright purple-pink bells in early summer. This flowering sometimes reoccurs in September, depending on the climatic conditions. Weigelas are easy-to-grow shrubs in ordinary, moist but well-drained soil. Compact varieties can be combined with all kinds of small shrubs and perennials in wild or romantic flower beds, small flowering hedges, or large borders.

Weigela Minor Black 'Verweig 3' is derived, among others, from W. florida, native to northeastern China, Korea, and Japan. Weigelas are Asian and belong to the Caprifoliaceae family, just like honeysuckles. This cultivar, obtained in the Netherlands in 2003, shows particularly reduced development. Its vegetation is bushy, upright, compact, and rounded, forming after 4 years of growth a ramified bush a little wider than it is tall, reaching approximately 60 to 70 cm (24 to 28 in) in height. The foliage of this deciduous variety is particularly dark. It consists of lanceolate, slightly undulate, satin leaves, with a purple-brown colour with green reflections in summer, turning bronze in autumn. Its funnel-shaped flowers are produced abundantly in May-June. They are a deep and vibrant pink, carried in corymbs at the ends of the previous year's branches. These flowers, which are melliferous and nectariferous, sometimes reoccur in late summer.

Hardy well beyond -20 °C (-4 °F), Weigelia 'Minor Black' thrives in sunny or semi-shaded locations, in moist but well-drained soil. Its dense and compact habit makes it well suited for small gardens and for ornamenting terraces. Its remarkably colourful foliage, far from being dull, has nothing to envy from that of physocarpus or certain small viburnums, and is brought to life by brilliant and long-lasting flowering. In a flower bed, for example, give it companions such as golden-leaved spireas (Spiraea betulifolia 'Tor Gold') or spireas with massive white spring flowers (Spiraea cantoniensis), variegated dogwoods, ornamental brambles, or a Viburnum 'Bailey Compact'. In the background, the very dark foliage of hollies, boxwoods, or Mahonia will form a beautiful setting for its changing colours and will provide winter decoration. This Weigela can also be planted in a container to adorn the terrace, or as a standalone to attract attention in small gardens.