Weigela Weigela florida
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Weigela:
- Phonetic Spelling
- wy-GEE-la FLOR-id-ah
- Description
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Wigelia is in the Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle) family and is native to North China, Korea, and Japan. It is a dense, rounded, deciduous shrub with somewhat coarse branches that tend to arch toward the ground as the shrub reaches maturity. For approximately two weeks each mid- to late-spring after the leaves emerge showy rosy colored tubular flowers cover the shrub and have a repeat, though sparser, performance in mid to late summer. Plant this shrub in the full sun to light shade though the best flowering will occur in full sun.
When mature, older interior branches can be removed in late winter to improve the plants vigor and blooms the following year. This plant blooms on old wood, therefore, pruning is best done just after flowering as flowers appear on last seasons wood. If not pruned, branches will form a fountain-like outline which is highly ornamental while covered with blooms but over time it can take on a more a weedy appearance.
It is often utilized as a foundation plant, massing planting or a shrub border. Many of the dwarf cultivars can be grown as container plants. Wigelia is air pollution and clay soil tolerant and is lightly salt tolerant.
Cultivars available include variegated leaf forms and many anthocyanin-hued (red, blue, or purple) flowers as well as a yellow-flowered cultivar.
Quick ID
- Stems of new growth have 2 vertical rows white 'hair'
- Axillary tubular-campanulate flowers after leaves
- Deciduous shrub with opposite, ovate, acuminate leaf
- Stipular scars encircle stems
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Minimal insect and disease damage. It may be damaged by deer. May experience winter dieback.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alexandra'
Rose red blooms with glossy burgundy leaves. - 'Bokraspiwi'
Wavy, deep purple leaves, hot pink flowers. - 'Brigela'
Variegated, red blooms. - 'Bristol Ruby'
Deep red flowers. Up to 8' tall. - 'Bristol Snowflake'
Vigorous, pink tinged blooms. - 'Canary'
Light yellow flowers fade to pink. - 'Candida'
White flowers, bright green leaves, grows to 8'. - 'Carnaval'
Red, white and pink blooms on same plant. - 'Courtalor'
Same as 'Carnaval' - 'Dark Horse'
Burgundy foliage, deep pink flowers. - 'Elvira'
Dwarf form of 'Alexandra', up to 3' tall. - 'Eva Rathke'
Compact, 4-5', long blooming period. - 'Foliis Purpireis'
Same as 'Java Red'. - 'Foliis Purpureis'
Grows up to 39" tall. - 'Java Red'
Compact form up to 4'. Red, white and pink blooms on same plant. - 'Midnight Wine'
Dark burgundy foliage with pink flowers. - 'Minuet'
Up to 30" tall. Red-purple flowers with leaves with a reddish tinge. - 'Minuet'
Purple-green foliage, magenta-rose or pale purple flowers. - 'Pink Delight'
Pink blooms that do not fade. 6' tall and wide. - 'Pink Princess'
Pink blooms that do not fade. 6' tall and wide. - 'Polka'
Deep pink blooms, 4' tall.
'Red Prince'
- 'Rubidor'
Gold leaves with red blooms. Up to 7' tall. - 'Rubigold'
Same as 'Rubidor' - 'Rumba'
Compact 3' with yellow-green leaves edged with purple. Red flowers with yellowish throat. - 'Sunny Princess'
Similar to 'Pink Delight', variegated with thin yellow margin on the foliage.
'Sunset'
- 'Variegata'
Leaves edged with creamy white margin. Rose-pink blooms. Compact and mounded up to 6' tall. - 'Variegata Nana'
Similar to 'Variegata', smaller growing to 4'. - 'Victoria'
Same as 'Alexandra' - 'White Knight'
White flowers, densely-branched compact habit to 6' tall and wide.
Brilliant red color bloom from late spring into early summer, up to 6'.
Unique variegated foliage with green centers and multicolored margins - 'Alexandra'
- 'Alexandra', 'Bokraspiwi', 'Brigela', 'Bristol Ruby', 'Bristol Snowflake', 'Canary', 'Candida', 'Carnaval', 'Courtalor', 'Dark Horse', 'Elvira', 'Eva Rathke', 'Foliis Purpireis', 'Foliis Purpureis', 'Java Red', 'Midnight Wine', 'Minuet', 'Minuet', 'Pink Delight', 'Pink Princess', 'Polka', 'Red Prince', 'Rubidor', 'Rubigold', 'Rumba', 'Sunny Princess', 'Sunset', 'Variegata', 'Variegata Nana', 'Victoria', 'White Knight'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alexandra'
Rose red blooms with glossy burgundy leaves. - 'Bokraspiwi'
Wavy, deep purple leaves, hot pink flowers. - 'Brigela'
Variegated, red blooms. - 'Bristol Ruby'
Deep red flowers. Up to 8' tall. - 'Bristol Snowflake'
Vigorous, pink tinged blooms. - 'Canary'
Light yellow flowers fade to pink. - 'Candida'
White flowers, bright green leaves, grows to 8'. - 'Carnaval'
Red, white and pink blooms on same plant. - 'Courtalor'
Same as 'Carnaval' - 'Dark Horse'
Burgundy foliage, deep pink flowers. - 'Elvira'
Dwarf form of 'Alexandra', up to 3' tall. - 'Eva Rathke'
Compact, 4-5', long blooming period. - 'Foliis Purpireis'
Same as 'Java Red'. - 'Foliis Purpureis'
Grows up to 39" tall. - 'Java Red'
Compact form up to 4'. Red, white and pink blooms on same plant. - 'Midnight Wine'
Dark burgundy foliage with pink flowers. - 'Minuet'
Up to 30" tall. Red-purple flowers with leaves with a reddish tinge. - 'Minuet'
Purple-green foliage, magenta-rose or pale purple flowers. - 'Pink Delight'
Pink blooms that do not fade. 6' tall and wide. - 'Pink Princess'
Pink blooms that do not fade. 6' tall and wide. - 'Polka'
Deep pink blooms, 4' tall.
'Red Prince'
- 'Rubidor'
Gold leaves with red blooms. Up to 7' tall. - 'Rubigold'
Same as 'Rubidor' - 'Rumba'
Compact 3' with yellow-green leaves edged with purple. Red flowers with yellowish throat. - 'Sunny Princess'
Similar to 'Pink Delight', variegated with thin yellow margin on the foliage.
'Sunset'
- 'Variegata'
Leaves edged with creamy white margin. Rose-pink blooms. Compact and mounded up to 6' tall. - 'Variegata Nana'
Similar to 'Variegata', smaller growing to 4'. - 'Victoria'
Same as 'Alexandra' - 'White Knight'
White flowers, densely-branched compact habit to 6' tall and wide.
Brilliant red color bloom from late spring into early summer, up to 6'.
Unique variegated foliage with green centers and multicolored margins - 'Alexandra'
- 'Alexandra', 'Bokraspiwi', 'Brigela', 'Bristol Ruby', 'Bristol Snowflake', 'Canary', 'Candida', 'Carnaval', 'Courtalor', 'Dark Horse', 'Elvira', 'Eva Rathke', 'Foliis Purpireis', 'Foliis Purpureis', 'Java Red', 'Midnight Wine', 'Minuet', 'Minuet', 'Pink Delight', 'Pink Princess', 'Polka', 'Red Prince', 'Rubidor', 'Rubigold', 'Rumba', 'Sunny Princess', 'Sunset', 'Variegata', 'Variegata Nana', 'Victoria', 'White Knight'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Weigela
- Species:
- florida
- Family:
- Caprifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northern China, Korea and Japan
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Easy to Grow
- Screening
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Inconspicuous fruit is a 2-valved oblong capsule. The seeds are unwinged to slightly winged.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are white, pink and red trumpet-shaped being 1.25 inches long that bloom profusely in spring, with sparse and scattered repeat bloom, often occurring in mid to late summer. Inflorescence is cymose, axillary, blooms in late spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are opposite, simple ovate-oblong to obovate, acuminate, serrate, glabrous above except on mid-rib, pubescent on veins beneath; petiole short, ca .2 inches.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Lenticels
- Bark Description:
- The bark has rows of hair between the nodes.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stem is gray-brown, encircled by stipular scar, large circular lenticels; vertical row of white pubescence on new growth.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Recreational Play Area
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Salt
