Birthday
HydrangeasWeigela is a lush flowering shrub that is covered in bell-shaped flowers in spring and often blooms again in late summer. It is undemanding, grows well in Ukraine and works both as a specimen shrub and in a hedge. Here are the main weigela species and varieties and how to plant and care for it so it flowers generously.
About weigela
Weigela is a deciduous shrub of the honeysuckle family, 0.5 to 3 m tall depending on the variety. The genus is named after the German scientist Christian Ehrenfried von Weigel, and the plant is native to East Asia.
Its funnel-shaped flowers come in white, pink, red, crimson and even yellow. A charming feature is that the flowers deepen in colour as they open, so the shrub looks multicoloured. The main bloom is in May–June, and many varieties produce a second, lighter flush in August–September.
Popular species and varieties
- Weigela florida — the most common species and parent of many varieties. 'Nana Purpurea' is compact with purple foliage; 'Nana Variegata' has variegated leaves.
- Hybrid weigelas — a large group including 'Bristol Ruby' with ruby-red flowers, 'Eva Rathke' with crimson ones and 'Candida' with white ones.
- 'Alexandra' (Wine & Roses) — dark purple foliage and pink flowers, attractive all season.
- Weigela middendorffiana — with creamy yellow flowers; likes moisture and partial shade.
How to plant weigela
Position. Sun or light partial shade, sheltered from cold north winds. In deep shade weigela flowers poorly. Avoid spots where meltwater or groundwater collects — the roots will rot.
Soil. Loose, fertile, neutral or slightly alkaline. On clay, add sand and compost.
Timing. Spring planting is best, once the soil has warmed, so the shrub can establish over the season. Container plants can go in during summer; autumn planting is risky in colder regions.
- Dig a hole about 50×50 cm and put 10–15 cm of gravel or broken brick at the bottom for drainage.
- Backfill with garden soil mixed with compost and add a balanced shrub fertiliser according to the instructions.
- Set the plant with the root collar at soil level, spread the roots, backfill and firm gently.
- Water well and mulch around the base with bark or compost.
Space plants 1 m apart for dwarf varieties and up to 2 m for tall ones.
Caring for weigela
- Watering. Moderate, especially in the first year and during droughts. Mulch helps retain moisture.
- Feeding. In early spring, a nitrogen or balanced fertiliser; in early summer, at bud stage, a phosphorus-potassium feed. No nitrogen from late summer.
- Pruning. In spring, remove frost-damaged, dead and diseased branches. Do the main shaping prune straight after the first flowering: shorten the flowered shoots and, every few years, cut some old stems to the base to rejuvenate the shrub.
- Winter. Mature shrubs of most varieties overwinter without protection. Mound soil around young plants and tender varieties, tie and bend the branches and cover them with conifer branches or fleece.
FAQ
Why isn't my weigela flowering?
Usually because of shade, pruning too late (removing shoots that would flower), frost damage or too much nitrogen.
When should weigela be pruned?
Tidy-up pruning in early spring; shaping straight after the first flowering.
Garden flowers bloom in season, but you can order a bouquet all year round with UFL delivery in Kyiv.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
