Weigela

Weigela Overview

The genus Weigela contains around 11 hardy, deciduous shrubs that are grown for their long funnel-shaped white or pink, sometimes red or yellow flowers that appear in spring. These hardy, sun-loving and profusely flowering plants are a popular choice for mixed shrub borders to help provide a range of seasonal interest. Cultivars with red-purple and variegated foliage have been produced to increase the variety of stunning displays. Giving these low maintenance plants a feed during late winter will improve flowering, and they can be lightly clipped back straight after flowering to maintain the desired shape. Just remember to give them room when you plant, some species mature size can be three meters high and three meters wide. Happily, there are dwarf varieties for small gardens. Weigela is part of the Caprifoliaceae family whose native habitat is the woodland edges of Eastern Asia. Robert Fortune collected the first species to be introduced to Western gardens around 1845. Weigela florida is still a popular choice today.