‘Burgundy Fire’ weigela

‘Wine and Roses’ weigela

Native to Japan, Korea, and China, flowering weigelas (Weigela florida) are reliable old-fashioned shrubs bearing pink or rose colored blooms in mid-spring. This deciduous shrub has an arching branch habit. New weigelas are now appearing at local garden centers. Older cultivars, typically 6 to 9 feet in height, are being replaced with compact 2 – 5 feet forms.

Pink and red color flower shades appear in late spring or early summer, some with stunning purple or variegated foliage. Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and an occasional hummingbird or two.

Plant weigela in full or partially sunny garden bed or a large container. This deciduous shrub prefers a compost-rich well-drained soil. Irrigate in summer if weekly rainfall amounts fall below one inch. Feed weigela in spring with a slow-release shrub fertilizer.

Prune away winter dieback in early spring or after flowering finishes. Any other pruning can wait until flowers fade. Don’t put off pruning much later as next spring’s flowers develop in summer and fall.

Dwarf weigelas make charming companions with many perennial and annual flowers. Cultivars with purple or variegated foliage offers an additional color splash to a landscape planting. Weigelas are low maintenance landscape alternatives and have very few disease and insect problems.

Cultivars to try:

Burgundy Fire® – compact growing habit (3-4 feet tall and wide); leaves start out green, turn bronze-red in summer, and fiery wine-red in fall; fragrant pink flowers are not plentiful in spring.

Crimson Kisses® – 3-feet tall rounded shape shrub covered with dark, lipstick-red flowers kissed with a white eye.

Electric Love™ – 1.5- to 2-foot-tall and wide with dark purple foliage; vibrant red bell-shaped flowers.

‘Minuet’ – under 3 feet tall with lavender pink blooms.

My Monet® (‘Verweig’) – cream, pink and green variegation on a dwarf (10-16″) tall plant; attractive pink flowers; best in partial shade.

Midnight Wine® (‘Elvera’) – purple leaves and pink flowers, a uniquely dwarf 8 to 10 inches tall and almost 1.5 feet wide shrub mound.

Polka® – compact 3-5 feet shrub with thick dark green foliage and rich velvety two-toned pink/ yellow throat blooms.