Weigela middendorffiana

Weigela middendorffiana is a small deciduous, erect and bushy shrub. It is distinguished by its charming flowering in bell-shaped amber-yellow flowers that are speckled with a reddish-orange throat. Original and undemanding, this botanical species will give its best when sheltered from strong winds.

This Weigela or weigelia belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family and is native to northern China, Japan, and northeastern Russia. This shrub's growth is quite slow and its adult size will not exceed 1.5 m (5 ft) in all directions. Its compact and bushy habit makes it appealing, even in small gardens.

It is a natural variety with yellow flowers; the flowering period is quite long, starting in April and ending in June/July. The tubular flowers are slightly fragrant and measure up to 4 cm (2 in) long. They are tinted with pale yellow to dark amber-yellow and are speckled with more or less reddish-orange at the centre. They are grouped in terminal cymes. The foliage is deciduous and luxuriant; the leaves with visible veins are dark green with a lighter underside and measure from 4 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) long. Its autumn colours consist of beautiful shades of reddish-orange.

It is a fairly adaptable shrub that tolerates all types of soil without excessive limestone; however, it particularly likes fresh and humus-bearing soils. It looks best in the sun but tolerates partial shade where it flowers a little less. The important thing is to protect it from prevailing winds and late frosts that can damage its flowering. This species has excellent hardiness. Weigela middendorffiana can be used as a hedge or in a flower bed with other shrubs, but also as a standalone or in a group of shrubs in larger gardens. It can even be grown in a large container as long as the substrate remains moist. In short, it is suitable for all uses, and so it would be a shame to miss out on these charming flowers with their exotic allure. Do not hesitate to plant it in the city as pollution does not scare it and neither does transplanting, even for mature specimens.