PLANTprofile

Weigela

By Kathy Jentz

Some pronounce it WAY-gul-luh, others say wy-GEE-la. No matter how you say it, Weigela (Weigela florida) is a gorgeous, deciduous shrub and a stunning bloomer that attracts hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden. It is in the honeysuckle family and is native to Asia. It is hardy to USDA Zones 4 to 8. It can grow 6 to 10 feet wide and high. Dwarf and miniature versions are also available. Its tiny, tubular-shaped blooms line up along the plant’s long, bending branches in abundance in mid-spring. It also re-blooms sporadically in late summer. Flowers come in various shades of white, pink, and red, while the contrasting foliage can range from bright-green to dark-bronze, depending in the cultivar. For best blooming, plant it in full sun, although it can take a bit of shade. Water it consistently for the first few years. After that, it is quite drought-tolerant. It flowers on old wood, so do any pruning right after this year’s blooms finish. Some recent cultivars to try include ‘Night Tuxedo’, ‘Czechmark Trilogy™’, ‘Sonic Bloom Red’, and ‘Minuet’.

Kathy Jentz is the editor and founder of Washington Gardener.