Weigela's natural, bushy appearance makes it an invaluable part of a modern garden, with varieties designed to suit nearly every function in any landscape.
Weigela are hardy perennial plants that tolerate most soil conditions, yet thrive best in moist, well-draining soil mixtures with regular irrigation. Avoid conditions which remain soggy or waterlogged for extended periods as this could lead to root rot.
Flower Color
Weigela flowers are beautiful, long-lasting and versatile. Most varieties feature pink or red funnel-shaped blooms; others offer multiple color options or unique shapes such as Sonic Bloom Proven Winners series of weigela. Weigela bushes require minimal care in most gardens - full sun is best, along with moisture-retaining soil that drains well, mulching may help prolong flower production, while spring fertilizing helps trigger it as well. They thrive best in an acidic or neutral pH (5.5 to 7.5) soil environment for best flower production results.
Many weigela varieties rebloom all summer and into autumn, giving you plenty of beauty all season long. Their colors often contrast well with foliage colors for added interest in the garden. Be sure to choose an appropriate variety based on space considerations as some weigelas can get quite large over time.
Newly planted weigela bushes require regular water until they become established, though once established they should require only occasional irrigation (regular rainfall should suffice). Once established, fertilize the weigela in early spring with a balanced liquid or pellet fertilizer and prune after flowering period to keep its form compact; though this may not always be necessary; certain varieties have been specifically bred to not require as much attention in the garden.
Foliage Color
Weigela (pronounced "why-GEE-la") blooms every summer and fall, drawing in both hummingbirds and butterflies with its trumpet-shaped flowers in pink, red, white and yellow colors - perfect for mixed flower gardens as an accent plant or border plant! Easy to care for as a perennial plant.
Weigela shrubs can tolerate partial shade but bloom more profusely in full sun. Varieties with gold, chartreuse or purple foliage may require afternoon shade in hottest regions to avoid leaf burn. Weigela bushes tend to reach maturity relatively quickly - reaching full size within several seasons with only minimal pruning necessary if necessary (if shaping or containment are desired; prune after flowering season ends to prevent cutting off flower buds for next year's blooms).
Tolerant of shade, Weigela thrives in many soil conditions, from moderately moist, well-draining soils with slightly acidic to neutral pH levels to dry conditions with little drainage. A two inch layer of mulch should be added at planting time to retain moisture, though weigelas themselves are drought tolerant once established; regular watering may be required during periods with sparse rainfall or regular irrigation with balanced liquid or slow release fertilizers made for trees and shrubs should also be done annually in spring to prevent frost damage caused by freezing temperatures during winter months.
Foliage Texture
Weigela may rank behind classic landscape plants like lilacs, azaleas and rhododendrons when it comes to popularity, but new weigela cultivars have helped it gain ground in modern gardens. Not only are these cultivars known for their wide range of flower colors but their bold foliage colors last from spring right through fall and beyond!
Though weigelas can tolerate shaded sites, they look their best when grown in full sun where their vibrant foliage colors can shine brightly. While these plants tolerate most soil conditions, for best results they require moderately fertile, well-draining soil with neutral or slightly acidic pH levels.
Foliage color plays an essential part in creating the overall aesthetic of a garden, and plant breeders have made great efforts to provide new choices. Some weigela varieties feature deep burgundy leaves while others boast variegated leaves; both options serve to accentuate and complement each flower variety in your landscape by providing textural depth and interest.
The Wine & Roses weigela offers lush purple foliage that contrasts perfectly against its vibrant rosy pink tubular flowers, winning both Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Gold Medal Plant award and Penn State Gardener Select trials. Known for its easygoing nature and prolific late spring and summer blooming (often repeated), making this weigela an excellent choice for borders, cutting gardens, foundations hedges and woodland gardens.
Flower Size
Weigela blooms are trumpet-shaped compared to azalea flowers which feature larger, rounder blooms with more pom-pom-like petals, making it easier to integrate weigela into a range of landscape designs, even those featuring other shrubs. Furthermore, its compact form makes it suitable for tighter spaces.
Weigela is an easy-care shrub that does well in most climates and climate zones 4-9. Plant it in full sunlight in soil with moist to very moist moisture levels that drain well; for maximum flower and foliage color and growth potential, full sun exposure should be preferred, although partial shade can still work; cultivars with variegated or gold foliage can brighten darker spots.
If planting weigela, begin by watering the soil thoroughly to get it settled before digging a hole that's twice the size of its container and twice as wide. Fill in this hole with soil before watering again for several minutes after filling in with fresh soil to promote deep root systems and establish your plant. Mulching weigela during cool spring or autumn months helps retain soil moisture while protecting its roots from extremes of temperature such as high heat or cold.
Weigela plants require minimal pruning, although you may wish to shape it after its first blooming or after it finishes reblooming in summer and fall. Good choices for this purpose are Sonic Bloom (pronounced why-gee-la) weigela from Proven Winners; this series offers several deer resistant pink, white and red weigela varieties which make them easy to prune.