Weigela Bushes: Your Full Rising & Care Information

Take a look at the weigela in case you’re on the lookout for a flowering shrub for hedges or a compact bush for container plantings. These deciduous shrubs function arching stems coated with stunning leaves and produce trumpet-shaped flowers. Plus, weigela bushes are prized for being low-maintenance, and with variations in foliage colour, plant top, and flower colour, chances are high good yow will discover a weigela that matches your backyard model. On this information, I’ll run via my favourite forms of weigela bushes to develop at dwelling and my important care ideas for optimum development and plant well being. 

About Weigela Bushes

Weigela crops are a bunch of shrubs within the honeysuckle household, Caprifoliaceae. They’ll vary in top from 3–15 ft tall and are native to East Asia.

All weigela species have rectangular, deciduous leaves that slim to a pointed tip. When spring or early summer season arrives, the crops produce clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers that may be purple, pink, white, or yellow.

Gardeners know these bushes for being low-maintenance and drought-tolerant. This comparatively carefree nature—and a ravishing look— makes Weigela standard for hedges, combined gardens, and even container plantings.

So long as you reside in a appropriate rising zone, you may count on your weigela crops to return 12 months after 12 months.

Planting & Rising Weigela Bushes

Weigela bushes are fairly simple to take care of, however it’s nonetheless useful to find out about their best surroundings.

Finest Instances of Yr to Plant

The autumn is one of the best time to plant weigela shrubs. You wish to discover the spot after the summer season warmth has handed however earlier than frost arrives. Planting throughout this time will enable the plant to comfortably settle into its new dwelling earlier than winter arrives.

Late September or October is one of the best time to plant weigela in lots of areas. Nevertheless, in case you stay in a chilly local weather, you might be able to plant in early September. The purpose is to get your crops within the floor a couple of month or two earlier than the primary fall frost.

It’s also possible to plant weigela crops within the spring. Simply be sure to wait till the hazard of frost is gone.

Appropriate Areas to Plant

You’ll be able to plant weigela bushes immediately within the floor or in containers. If you wish to plant one in every of these shrubs in a pot, select smaller varieties that will probably be glad in a restricted area.

So far as backyard location goes, search for a well-draining space that receives plenty of solar. And since some weigela can develop fairly tall, guarantee there’s sufficient room for them to broaden with out encroaching on different crops.

Issues for Pots & Container Gardens

It’s also possible to develop weigela crops in pots. All weigela develop no less than a few ft tall, so be sure to select a bigger pot that’s no less than a foot in diameter. And don’t overlook to search for drainage holes!

Fill your pot with well-draining potting soil and place it in a sunny location.

Smaller weigela varieties sometimes develop higher in containers, so maintain an eye fixed out for dwarf varieties.

Soil Necessities

These shrubs like soil that could be a bit acidic, so make certain the pH is between 5.5 and seven.0. In case your soil is extra alkaline, you may add agricultural sulfur to decrease the pH. Nevertheless, it’s going to take a number of months earlier than you discover a distinction in pH.

Weigela isn’t too choosy in regards to the soil composition however prefers well-draining soil. Loosening compacted soil with a shovel or digging fork earlier than planting will assist maintain these crops glad.

Mild Issues

Weigela bushes want no less than six hours of direct solar every day. They can deal with a bit much less mild however don’t be stunned in case you discover fewer flowers, slowed development, or pale foliage.

Important Weigela Plant Care

When you’ve chosen weigela and planted it at dwelling, comply with these care ideas.

Watering

Weigela are drought-tolerant and don’t want a complete lot of water as soon as they’re established. Nevertheless, you’ll wish to maintain the soil reasonably moist the primary few months the crops are within the floor.

You’ll solely need to water established crops about as soon as each week or two in the summertime. Watering deeply and often will assist the crops develop sturdy and expansive root methods.

Container-grown crops will dry out faster than in-ground crops, so count on to water these guys no less than as soon as per week.

Fertilizing

These crops don’t require a lot fertilizer to thrive, however they’ll profit from a dose of a balanced fertilizer (I like this one through Amazon) in the midst of spring. Each liquid and granular choices will work nicely.

Pruning

You don’t have to prune weigela crops—they’re genuinely low-maintenance. Nevertheless, they’ll all the time admire it in case you take away any lifeless or broken wooden within the winter.

Since weigela crops flower on outdated wooden, you’ll wish to prune the crops after flowering. Meaning you may form your crops in the summertime or fall.

Pest Management & Deer Resistance

Deer and rabbits sometimes go away weigela alone, so that you don’t have to fret about defending these crops from massive critters. Nevertheless, they’re inclined to some frequent plant pests.

Look ahead to tiny sap-sucking creatures like spider mites, aphids, and thrips. These pests can shortly multiply and result in broken or discolored leaves.

You’ll be able to wipe off small numbers of those pests with a soapy rag and spray bigger populations with neem oil or insecticidal cleaning soap. Ensure that to completely coat the pests since these merchandise work on contact.

Finish of Season and Overwinter Care

Weigela crops don’t require any particular winter care. Optionally available steps embody eradicating any lifeless branches and mulching across the crops with wooden chips.

So long as you reside in USDA hardiness zone 4 and above, these crops will seemingly survive the winter outside.

15 In style Kinds of Weigela Bushes:

Right here, I’ve included a collection of my absolute favourite weigela bushes to develop at dwelling. There’s a mixture of foliage colours and top variances, every providing varied planting choices. 

1. Bristol Snowflake Weigela

The ‘Bristol Snowflake’ weigela bushes produce gracefully arching branches and delicate white flowers that resemble falling snow. Its leaves are deep inexperienced and maintain their colour nicely into the autumn.

The medium measurement means it really works nicely in combined backyard plantings and hedges, however it’s a bit large for many containers.

2. Czechmark Trilogy Weigela

This hybrid weigela shows three totally different colours of flowers on the identical plant! Medium shrubs burst to life with white, pink, and blooms within the spring and once more within the late summer season.

When the plant isn’t flowering, it shows wealthy inexperienced leaves. Like most forms of weigela, this selection can tolerate drought in addition to strain from deer and rabbits.

3. High quality Wine Weigela 

High quality Wine weigela bushes are a compact plant with arching branches and deep pink flowers. Together with its pink flowers, the plant delights with deep maroon leaves that encourage the title High quality Wine.

Because it’s on the smaller facet, it might probably work nicely in container gardens. Simply make certain to decide on a pot that’s no less than a foot extensive and deep, and fill it with well-draining potting soil.

4. French Lace Weigela

The French Lace weigela bushes first appeared as a genetic mutation on a ‘Bristol Ruby’ plant. Plant breeders observed the differing look, remoted it, and additional developed it.

Right now, this weigela has vibrant purple flowers with darkish pink interiors. Its leaves are additionally attractive, with mild inexperienced interiors and yellow edges. 

Whereas these crops thrive in full solar, you may develop them within the understory of bigger timber or in partial shade. Nevertheless, count on fewer flowers and drabber foliage.

5. Golden Jackpot Weigela

The Golden Jackpot weigela stands out with brilliant yellow leaves that maintain their colour from spring via fall. The medium-sized shrubs produce darkish pink, trumpet-shaped flowers within the spring, including much more magnificence to the panorama.

Since these crops develop from 4 to 6 ft tall, they’ll make nice hedges or stand-alone crops. It’s also possible to attempt mixing them with green-leaved weiglea for a pleasant distinction.

Scientific Identify: Weigela florida ‘MonRigney’

6. Midnight Wine Weigela

The Midnight Wine weigela bushes add a wealthy and stylish really feel to your backyard with deep purple foliage. It produces nodding darkish pink flowers within the spring.

The variability solely grows a few ft tall and extensive, which makes it a terrific possibility for container plantings or combined backyard beds. Attempt mixing it with summer season flowering perennials to create a backyard that’s crammed with colour from spring via fall.

7. Minuet Weigela

The Minuet weigela is a dwarf selection with inexperienced foliage tinged with purple. It produces a significant flush of pink and purple flowers in Could and June, however a number of different flowers might seem later within the season.

This weigela stays on the smaller facet, so it’s a great possibility for container plantings. It’s also possible to develop it in combined perennial gardens or linear plantings alongside paths and driveways.

8. Purple Prince Weigela

Purple Prince is a big weigela bush that produces a great deal of darkish pink flowers in Could and June. It additionally shows brilliant inexperienced foliage with hints of purple and purple.

Since this weigela will get fairly massive, it might probably work nice as a privateness hedge or different kind of border. You’ll be able to let the crops develop wild or prune them after flowering to keep up a neater form.

9. Ruby Queen Weigela (Weigela ‘Ruby Queen’)

These dwarf weigela bushes sport darkish purple foliage with hints of hyperlink inexperienced. The leaves maintain their vibrant colour from spring to fall, and the crops produce pink flowers within the spring.

You’ll be able to make the most of the plant’s compact kind in container plantings on porches and decks, or tuck the small shrub into combined plantings.

10. Sonic Bloom® Pink Weigela 

Whereas most forms of weigela bushes produce the majority of their flowers within the spring and early summer season, the Sonic Growth® Pink blooms all through the summer season. You’ll be able to count on to see the primary pink flowers within the late spring after which watch extra blooms kind up till the primary frost.

The plant’s medium measurement makes it a good selection for small hedges, front-of-house plantings, or combined backyard beds.

11. Sonic Bloom® Purple Weigela

Like its pink cousin, the purple Sonic Bloom® is a repeat bloomer. The medium shrubs start producing purple flowers within the late spring and proceed blooming via the autumn.

You don’t have to fret about deadheading the shrubs—the crops will proceed producing flowers even in case you neglect them. These crops can even tolerate varied soil circumstances however will flower finest in full solar.

12. Spilled Wine Weigela

Whereas spilled wine could also be trigger for concern, this colourful weigela will convey cheerfulness to your backyard. It options darkish purple leaves and brilliant pink flowers.

Its compact kind means it thrives in containers in addition to with different shorter crops. Because it likes full solar, make certain taller crops don’t shade out this dwarf weigela. 

13. Tango Weigela

In the event you’re on the lookout for a compact weigela bush for deck planters or porch backyard bins, take a look at Tango. This dwarf selection has vibrant inexperienced flowers and produces brilliant pink flowers that entice bees and hummingbirds.

It stays beneath three ft tall and is an effective alternative for small areas. Simply be sure to present it with no less than six hours of solar every day.

14. Variegated Weigela

You’ve seen weigela bushes with darkish inexperienced and even purple leaves, however what about variegated foliage? As its title alludes, this weigela has two-toned leaves that function brilliant inexperienced and white.

The plant’s pink flowers are additionally fairly full of life due to various shades of pink. Since these crops develop to a medium measurement, they work nicely as hedges or stand-alone crops.

15. Wine and Roses Weigela

The Wine and Roses weigela produces brilliant pink flowers within the spring and early summer season. Nevertheless, the plant’s deep purple foliage provides curiosity to the backyard from spring via fall.

The crops want full solar and can maintain their wealthy foliage colour regardless of brilliant mild. Attempt tucking a number of of those crops within the entrance or facet of your house, or plant them collectively to create a hedge.

Weigela Bushes – Wrapping Up

Weigela bushes are easy-to-care-for crops that may survive drought, poor soil, and even a little bit of neglect. Plant them in an space with plenty of solar and revel in their colourful foliage and trumpet-shaped blooms.

Briana holds a B.S. in Plant Sciences from Penn State College. She manages a small market backyard the place she grows greens and herbs. She additionally enjoys rising flowers and houseplants at dwelling.