Weigelas make the perfect garden shrub. Low-maintenance, they’re easy to grow and work well in a variety of situations, including mixed borders. The leaves of weigela are deciduous and range from dark green to light green, golden and variegated shades. The funnel-shaped flowers are a hit with bumblebees, and range in colour from deep pink to yellow, appearing in early summer.
How to grow weigela
Grow weigela in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Prune back after flowering and mulch annually with a well-rotted compost or leaf mould.
Growing weigela: jump links
- Planting weigela
- Caring for weigela
- How to propagate weigela
- Growing weigela: problem-solving
- Where to buy weigela
- Weigela varieties to grow
More on growing weigela:
- Weigela ‘Alexandra’
- How to plan for year-round colour
- Plants with variegated foliage
Where to grow weigela
Weigela is an easy-going shrub that suits most growing conditions. Plant it in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade.
How to plant weigela
To get your weigela shrub off to a good start, always dig a generous hole and add mycorrhizal fungi. Ensure it’s planted at the same depth it was in the pot and water well. In dry conditions, keep watering regularly until you spot signs of growth.
How to care for weigela
Weigelas are easy to look after. Prune moderately, after flowering has finished. Established weigelas also respond well to hard pruning if they have outgrown their spot – you can cut back stems to ground level to encourage new growth.
Follow our No Fuss video guide with David Hurrion, on how to prune weigela and other spring-flowering shrubs:
How to propagate weigela
The best method of propagating weigela is by taking softwood cuttings. You can do this throughout the growing season.
Growing weigela: problem solving
Weigela are generally free from plant diseases but can be prone to eelworms affecting the buds and leaves.
Growing weigela: buying advice
- Choose your weigela carefully – they can grow to 2.5m so make sure you have enough space for it
- Only buy healthy stock. Check your weigela for signs of stress or damage, including crossing stems or pruning cuts, which indicate a problem which has been removed
- SWeigela are available from garden centres, but you’ll find greater choice at specialist shrub nurseries
Weigela varieties to grow
Weigela florida ‘Variegata’ – this is one of the best variegated cultivars. It’s smaller and more compact, with cream and green leaves, and pink flowers. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Weigela ‘Bristol Ruby’ – has mid-green leaves, which are complemented by deep red, funnel-shaped flowers in summer.
Weigela middendorffiana – this variety has bright green leaves with pale yellow flowers, often with contrasting markings in the centre of the bell-shaped flowers.
Weigela ‘Looymansii Aurea’ – this is a cultivar with golden-yellow leaves and pink flowers, that appear paler inside.
Weigela ‘Naomi Campbell’ = ‘Bokrashine’ (PBR) – a compact, bushy, rounded shrub growing to about 1m. The dark green foliage is tinged with bronzy-purple and flowers are a dark pinkish-red.
Weigela middendorffiana ‘Mango’ – a compact cultivar, with a rounded shape, growing to around 1m. The flowers are creamy-yellow with orangey pink.
