Weigela

In late spring, cascades of flowers erupting from Weigela florida brightens up gardens. The dense, rounded shrub is a landscape favorite, featuring profuse clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers in various shades of pink that arch toward the ground on long stems. In early spring, the foliage emerges first, offering an early pop of color before bursting into bloom in the weeks before summer and continuing through the summer season.

An ornamental shrub, weigela is native to North China, Korea, and Japan but was imported to Europe in the 1800s. The pink blooms of weigela have historically been associated with grace and faithfulness. Today, this hardy member of the Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle) family is indispensable as a landscape plant, often used in borders and massings.

There are more than three dozen species of Weigela florida, in an array of different sizes, a wide range of foliage colors, and featuring funnel-shaped flowers in a handful of hues. Because weigela foliage ranges from striking variegation to deep purple, it can be used to add visual interest in the garden beyond bloom season.

Uses for Weigela

Weigela is a strictly ornamental plant, with no properties that make it suitable for food or medicinal purposes. Nevertheless, it is a versatile garden staple, able to be used in foundation plantings, borders, and hedges. The variety in sizes and foliage mean that there are varieties well-suited to large public spaces as well as small residential gardens.

Although it doesn’t offer humans any nutrition, weigela is a valuable plant for pollinators. Its long bloom season and prolific blossoms attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds to gardens for months on end — delighting wildlife enthusiasts.

Places to See Collections of Weigela

Lovers of weigela who wish to see the full glory of this shrub in person can visit two noteworthy European collections. In England, Sheffield Botanical Gardens holds the British Weigela national collection — with 145 cultivars derived from 10 species. Founded in 1997, the German Weigela national collection, Sichtungsgarten Weigela, is located in Buckow, Maerkische-Schweiz. This collection was curated from across Europe and contains around 150 cultivars representing every weigela species.

Popular Weigela florida Varieties

The native bleeding heart species are pink, but several wonderful cultivars in different colors exist:

W. florida aka ‘Elvera’ — Ideal for small gardens, this dwarf variety grows to no more than 18” and features deep-purple foliage with dark pink blooms.
W. florida aka ‘Sunset’ — Also known as “My Monet,” this dwarf weigela grows to 18” and is primarily prized for its tricolor variegated foliage in sunset hues.
W. florida aka ‘Dark Horse’ — A medium-sized shrub, this 3’ weigela has deep-purple foliage with contrasting chartreuse veins.
W. florida aka ‘Nain Rouge’ — A compact French cultivar whose name means “red dwarf,” this variety is noteworthy for foliage that turns brilliantly red in autumn.
W. florida aka 'Brigela' — Also known as “Moulin Rouge” or “French Lace,” this full-sized variety reaches 6’ and is loved for bright variegated foliage that lightens up dark garden areas.
W. florida aka ‘Carlton’ — Known as “Sonic Bloom” and “Ghost,” this unusual 5’ weigela begins the season with deep-green foliage that grows lighter and more golden through the year.
W. florida aka 'White Knight' — A densely branched, compact variety growing to 6' tall with white flowers.

Can I Grow Weigela Successfully?

Weigela is beloved by gardeners for how easy it is to cultivate and care for. This is an unfussy shrub that can thrive in full sun or part shade and is able to tolerate many different soil types, as long as the drainage is adequate.

New weigela plantings will need regular deep watering until they are established. During long hot spells it may be necessary to water these shrubs occasionally, but otherwise they typically thrive with little attention. Mature weigelas can grow leggy and weedy looking if not periodically pruned.

However, blooms only happen on old wood, so it is best to perform any pruning in late summer, just after the last flowers have faded. Mature plants may benefit from the removal of older, inner branches in late winter to improve the blooms in the following year.

One important note is that it is not actually necessary to prune weigela shrubs, as their natural shape is fountain-like and mounding. The only reason to prune is for shaping, to remove dead wood, or to reinvigorate the shrub to optimize flowering.

Size: 4–6 ft (120–180 cm) tall 4–6 ft (120–180 cm) spread

Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 5–9

Light Duration : Full sun, part shade

Soil: Moist, well-drained

Blooming Time: Late spring to early summer