In short
- A classic ornamental shrub — flowers profusely in May and June.
- Bell-shaped flowers in shades of pink and red attract bees and bumblebees.
- Undemanding, hardy to USDA zone 4; tolerates partial shade.
- Flowers on last year's wood — prune immediately after flowering.
- Grows best in fertile, moderately moist soil.
Botanical data
- Family
- Caprifoliaceae (Caprifoliaceae)
- Height
- 1.5–3 m
- Width
- 2–3 m
- Habit
- Spreading
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Position
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil
- Loamy, Humus-rich
- pH reaction
- pH 6–7.5
- Moisture
- Moderate
- Bloom
- May–June
- Hardiness
- USDA 4b–8b
- Propagation
- From cuttings, By layering
Characteristics
The shrub reaches 1.5–3 m tall, forming dome-shaped clumps with characteristically arching branches. The leaves are ovate, pointed and matt green. The tubular, bell-shaped, five-lobed flowers appear in the leaf axils on last year's wood; they are pink in the species, and range from white to intense crimson in cultivars.
Growing and care
Watering
Likes moderately moist soil, especially during flowering. Water in drought so it does not drop its buds; it will not, however, tolerate prolonged waterlogging.
Fertilizing
A single spring feed is quite enough for this free-flowering shrub.
Planting
A sunny to lightly shaded site with fertile, free-draining soil; enrich the planting hole with compost.
Pruning calendar
Pruning group: Spring-flowering shrubs
What and how to cut
Right after flowering each year, cut out 1/4–1/3 of the oldest shoots at the very base, and shorten the spent shoots back to a young side branch. This keeps a steady supply of young shoots coming from the bottom.
Immediately after flowering (June–July).
What not to do
Don't prune in winter or early spring before flowering — you'll remove the ready-formed buds and there will be no flowers. The right window is only the brief moment right after flowering. Don't shear them flat like a hedge either — you'll ruin the natural shape and the flowering shoots.
Companion plants
Good companions
Flowers yellow in early spring, just before the weigela — together they extend the colourful season in the shrub border.
Similar soil needs and shade tolerance; it takes over flowering in summer once the weigela has finished.
Low ground-cover perennials neatly screen the shrub's bare base and enjoy the same moderately moist site.
Bad companions
They need lean, dry, free-draining soil, whereas weigela grows best in fertile, moderately moist ground.
The evidence level indicates whether the relationship is backed by research, observation, or gardening tradition.
Diseases and pests
Toxicity
| For whom | Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Humans | None | — |
| Dogs | None | — |
| Cats | None | — |
History and origin
The genus commemorates the German botanist Christian Ehrenfried Weigel. The species was introduced from China and Japan to Europe in the mid-19th century and quickly spread through gardens; it remains one of the most widely planted spring shrubs, having given rise to hundreds of cultivars with colourful foliage and flowers.
Uses
For shrub borders, lawn edges, as a specimen and for informal flowering hedges. It combines beautifully with forsythia and other spring shrubs in naturalistic and cottage gardens.
Trivia
- Some cultivars repeat-flower in summer, though the second flush is always more modest than the May display.
- Purple-leaved cultivars such as Foliis Purpureis are also planted for the foliage alone.
Frequently asked questions
When should weigela be pruned so that it flowers well?
Immediately after flowering, in June or July. Weigela sets its buds on wood grown the previous year, so a spring prune would remove the flowers. Cut the oldest stems out at the base and thin the shrub.
Why is my weigela flowering poorly?
The most common causes are too much shade, pruning at the wrong time (in spring), or over-feeding with nitrogen. The plant needs sun or light partial shade and pruning only after flowering.
Is weigela frost-hardy in central Europe?
Yes, the species is hardy to USDA zone 4 and overwinters outdoors without protection. In severe winters the tips of the youngest shoots may die back, which is removed during the spring tidy-up.
Sources
- Plants of the World Online (POWO)Database (GBIF, POWO…)
- RHS — Weigela floridaInstitution / botanical garden
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