SHRUBS > WEIGELA
Chris is a gardening writer and nature enthusiast. He graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2022 with an MA in Psychology. Chris works with the Leeds Green Action Society, helping their food cooperative by growing various fruit and vegetables on their two allotments in Hyde Park, Leeds.
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
IN THIS GUIDE
Weigela is a range of deciduous plants (typically grown as shrubs) that come in a variety of different colours.
With their multi-coloured leaves and distinctive flowers, they are a great choice to add interest to your garden.
“As well as different colours, Weigelas come in different sizes too, with dwarfing cultivars as well as larger shrubs,” shares Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly.
“Their spreading habit makes them a good screening shrub but they also make attractive specimen shrubs with their beautiful trumpet-like spring flowers.”
Growing weigela in your garden isn’t too difficult – their water requirements are usually met by rainfall and providing you pick a good spot with plenty of sunlight, they should thrive for many years.
Overview
Botanical Name | Weigela |
Plant Type | Shrub |
Native Area | Japan, China, Korea |
Hardiness Rating | H6 |
Foliage | Deciduous, simple ovate leaves |
Flowers | Funnel-shaped red, pink, yellow or white flowers |
When To Sow | February, March, October, November |
Flowering Months | May, June, July |
When To Prune | July |
Sunlight
Preferred
Partial Shade
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Size
Height
1.5 – 2.5M
Spread
1.5 – 2.5M
Bloom Time
May – July
Soil
Preferred
Most Soil Types
Moisture
Moist but well drained
pH
Any
Weigela originated in Japan, China and Korea but today they’re grown in many different climates around the world.1Weigela. (n.d.). Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:6141-1
How To Grow Weigela
Before planting, you should ensure that the soil is in decent condition.
Soil that’s too hard, frozen or waterlogged would not be suitable.
Planting
The roots of weigela that have already been established tend to be quite substantial, so be sure to make a hole in the soil that can accommodate it properly.
You should make the hole at least as deep as the roots and roughly twice as wide.
Make sure to cover it properly and using a layer of mulch would not be a bad idea, particularly if you’re planting in autumn.
The best time to plant weigela would be either in the spring or autumn.
This is because it prevents the plants from being immediately exposed to strong sunlight, which can be an issue when you’re transplanting already established bushes.
The best spot for weigela would be in either full or partial sunlight.
Although weigela can cope in shaded spots, they won’t flourish in the same way as they would with a good amount of sunlight.
Weigela Care
Growing weigela in your garden isn’t too difficult, but it is important to know the best way to go about it if you want your plants to thrive.
Below is a full guide to growing weigela in your garden, including the initial planting, watering, picking the right spot and using fertiliser.
Watering
Weigela plants have average watering needs.
This means if there’s a decent downpour during the week, then you usually don’t need to worry about watering them.
You should certainly water them during dry spells, however – make sure to soak the roots well when watering.
Fertilising
Using a good fertiliser that’s suitable for shrubs is certainly a good idea when you first plant your weigela.
Propagation
There are a couple of reliable ways to go about propagating weigela, both using cuttings.
It is possible to propagate using seed but here we’ll focus on using cuttings.
Early (Softwood) Cuttings
Using cuttings that you take in late summer/early autumn is the first method you can use to propagate weigela.
Before taking any cuttings, it’s a good idea to take any steps you can prior to ensure the plant is in optimal condition.
A very good way to do this is by watering the plant you’ll be taking the cuttings from a day before you do.
You’ll only need to do this if the soil is dry.
- Make sure that any cuttings you take have a decent amount of foliage with healthy-looking stems.
- Cut just below the leaf bud and make sure to remove some of the leaves that are close to the base in order to reduce the water requirements.
- Once you’ve taken the cuttings, it’s a good idea to use a rooting hormone powder on the base of the cutting to encourage healthy growth and reduce the risk of rotting.
- You should place your cuttings in a 9cm or 1-litre pot and use good quality propagating compost.
- It’s important to ensure the cuttings get a decent amount of sunlight but aren’t overexposed.
A greenhouse under a bench or under shade netting would be an ideal location but failing that you can place them in a semi-shaded spot in the house.
You should check on your cuttings at least once a week, being sure to remove any unhealthy-looking foliage as well as watering as needed.
Hardwood Cuttings
The second method for propagating weigela is using hardwood cuttings.
This is where you take fully mature cuttings from the current year’s growth.
You should follow the same steps as mentioned above when making the cuttings.
The advantage to using hardwood cuttings as opposed to early cuttings – is that you’re able to grow them outdoors as well as indoors.
If you choose to plant them outdoors, then you will need to take a bit of care to encourage the best growth.
You should use a good quality compost and plant the stems so there’s roughly a third of them protruding from the soil.
Growing them in containers, either indoors or in a greenhouse is another option.
This does give you some advantages – namely being able to protect the cuttings from the harsh winter weather.
If you do plant the cuttings in containers, then be sure to also use good quality compost and water them whenever they become dry.
Providing you check on them regularly and provide proper care, they should be ready to plant outdoors by the next autumn.
Common Problems
Below are some of the most common diseases and problems that weigela can suffer from:
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is a very common type of fungal disease that affects a wide variety of plants.
It’s so-called because the leaves of infected plants will have a coat of mildew on them that resembles white powder.
To avoid powdery mildew, you should ensure that your plants have plenty of space between them for good circulation.
You should also take care when watering to avoid any water getting on the leaves.
If you have any plants that are affected by powdery mildew, then you should remove infected leaves, or in more severe cases – dig up and destroy infected plants.
Black Spot
Black spot is another type of fungal disease that can affect weigela.
It will cause infected plants to develop black spots on their leaves and will often result in the leaves falling off the plant.
To avoid black spot, you should take care not to get the leaves wet when watering, since this is often how it spreads.
It’s also a good idea to use mulch, which helps to prevent water from splashing up.
Rust
Rust is a fungal disease that will cause orange-coloured spots to appear on the leaves of infected plants.
If you notice any plants that are affected by rust, then you should either remove them or use a good fungicide.
Spider Mites
Spider mites may be small, but they can cause a lot of damage to plants.
As well as injecting toxins into plants, they also leave visible webbing and quickly multiply.
Thankfully, it’s quite easy to get rid of them – a simple spray of fungicidal soap or water is usually enough to remove them from plants.
Mealybugs
Mealybugs are another pest that can affect weigela.
They are troublesome for a few reasons – firstly, they will drink from the leaves, which can easily result in poor growth.
The honeydew they excrete also attracts ants as well as causing further issues with the honeydew itself growing mould.
Aphids
Aphids feed on the underside of leaves and the residue they leave behind can attract ants.
If aphids become a problem, then you can wash them off with water or a fungicide.
Another effective way to deal with them is by growing plants that attract predators, such as wasps and ladybirds.
FAQs
When Should I Prune Weigela?
The best time to prune weigela would be in the spring, after they’ve finished blooming.
The reason for this is that weigelas flower the following spring on the new growth.
Are Weigela Acid-Loving Plants?
Weigela plants do best in soil or compost that’s slightly acidic, with a pH level of around 5.5-6.
Are Weigela Evergreen Or Deciduous?
Weigela are deciduous plants, so they’ll generally look at their best during the late spring and summer.
Are Weigela Deer Resistant?
Yes. Deer usually won’t damage or destroy weigela plants.
References
- 1Weigela. (n.d.). Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:6141-1