Weigela florida Monet Verweig

Weigela florida MONET 'Verweig' is a striking dwarf and dense variety that grabs attention. It bears variegated foliage which is edged in pink and white. In the middle of spring, it produces beautiful purple-pink flowers. Very adaptable and compact, it suits all gardens, even the most modest ones. Plant in the sun or in medium shade.

Weigela belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family, which also includes the famous honeysuckles or the Kolkwitzia, another beautiful bush. Weigelas, very fashionable a few decades ago, have fallen out of favour in recent years. However, they are easy to grow, adaptable plants that require little attention. Weigela florida species, contrary to what its name might suggest (which actually means "well-flowered"), naturally grows in open forests in China, Korea, and Japan. It reaches about 2 m to 3 m (6.6 ft to 9.8 ft) in all directions, with branches bending under the weight of numerous spring flowers.

The MONET 'Verweig' variety comes from this species: it stands out with its incredibly colourful foliage. The leaves are born with a reddish-pink margin, which diffuses throughout the lamina, and then lightens up to pure white. The pink tones reappear with the sun and the young leaves during the season. While some may consider it strange or unusual, others will probably find it charming and intriguing. What is certain is that it will not go unnoticed in your garden. Between late April and late May/early June, it produces tubular purple-pink flowers, which stand out particularly well against the shaded rose foliage. This variety does not produce fruit, so it remains very neat throughout the year. Very compact and well-branched, it will reach about 60 cm (23.6 in) in height and 90 cm (35.4 in) in width.

Like all Weigelas, MONET 'Verweig' is very adaptable. It appreciates limestone but will settle for any good, well-drained garden soil that is not too dry, in non-scorching sun or partial shade. Very hardy, it can withstand temperatures as low as -25° C (-13° F). Prune back the faded branches at their base, just after flowering, if necessary - this way, you won't compromise next year's bloom. This will help maintain a compact and dense habit and increase flowering. Note that even older Weigelas are easy to transplant thanks to their relatively shallow root system.

This bush will be excellent as a standalone specimen or in the foreground of a shrub border, with other small-sized shrubs such as Cotinus 'Young Lady', Chinese Lilas Superba, Deutzia 'Perle Rose', or even Berberis 'Orange Rocket'. Its very compact size also allows it to be grown in a large pot, so it can be admired on a terrace, for example. However, remember to water it regularly to prevent the substrate from drying out.