Weigela florida Rosea

Weigelia florida 'Rosea' is a vigorous variety that bears a generous flowering with bright pink flower buds opening to pale pink! Displaying a rounded and bushy habit, this beautiful bush has a moderate growth suitable for gardens of all sizes and is easy to grow in any moist and loose soil, even calcareous soil. It shows a clear preference for richer soils and sunny locations that allow it to flower better. Wonderful in a country or romantic border, it will be perfect in a flowering hedge with other flowering or foliage shrubs.

'Rosea' is derived from Weigela florida, native to northeastern China, Korea, and Japan. Weigelas are Asian plants and belong to the Caprifoliaceae family, just like honeysuckles. 'Rosea' is a calcicolous shrub (preferring calcareous soils) that develops a fibrous and trailing root system, which tolerates transplantation perfectly. It has a very bushy habit and eventually forms a large multi-branched bush with initially upright branches that arch over time. Its growth is rapid in moist soil, reaching an average size of 2.5 m (8.1 ft) in all directions at maturity. Its flowers form bell-shaped or funnel-shaped blooms, bright pink in bud and pale pink when open. They are borne in corymbs at the ends of the previous year's branches and bloom abundantly from May to June. Its deciduous foliage is composed of lanceolate leaves, slightly undulate, pointed at their tips, and measure 4 cm to 8 cm (1.6 in to 3.1 in) long. They are light green in colour, then dark green in summer, taking on slightly more yellowish tones in autumn before falling off. Note that the foliage colour will be even more intense and dark when the shrub is exposed to the sun.

Hardy to -20° C (-4° F), 'Rosea' thrives in sunny positions, and in deep, moist, but well-drained soil. Its arching and vigorous habit makes it a highly ornamental shrub from spring to autumn. This variety is attractive for its generous and vibrant flowering, bringing life to any bocage hedge and adding beauty to even the humblest of settings. In a border, for example, give it companions such as other varieties of purple-leaved Weigelas, Elaeagnus pungens 'Maculata', Kerria japonica, Viburnum carlesii or V. trilobum 'Bailey Compact', mahonias, Hydrangea, variegated dogwoods, spireas, ornamental brambles, or even a hedge honeysuckle. In the background, the very dark evergreen foliage of hollies, boxwoods, or yews will provide a beautiful setting for its deciduous vegetation and ensure a dazzling winter display.