Shrubs, trees and climbers

Weigela

WeigelaCaprifoliaceae
AT A GLANCE
Part shade Water: average H6down to −20 °C 1.5–2.5 m tall · 1.5–2.5 m wide In a pot: yes
Flowering · UK
Flowering · Northern Italy
Flowering · Central Italy
Flowering · Southern Italy and islands

Water well through the first two summers; established plants are fairly drought-tolerant and low-maintenance.

Care

Light

Standard shrub siting.

Water

Standard shrub watering.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil, adaptable to most types.

Pruning

Prune immediately after flowering, removing some of the oldest stems at the base each year.

Feeding

A general feed over a mulch in spring. It flowers on the previous year's wood, so the feed supports the new shoots made after the post-flowering prune — those are next year's flowers.

Propagation

Semi-ripe cuttings in summer, or hardwood cuttings after leaf fall; both take readily. The prunings you remove immediately after flowering are exactly the right material.

Month by month

Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.

  1. MarchLight feed as growth resumes. how ›
  2. MayEnjoy the main flowering season.
  3. JunePrune immediately after flowering, removing some oldest stems at the base. how ›

Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.

  1. MarchLight feed as growth resumes. how ›
  2. MayEnjoy the main flowering season.
  3. JunePrune immediately after flowering, removing some oldest stems at the base. how ›

Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.

  1. FebruaryLight feed as growth resumes. how ›
  2. AprilEnjoy the main flowering season.
  3. MayPrune immediately after flowering, removing some oldest stems at the base. how ›

Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.

  1. FebruaryLight feed as growth resumes. how ›
  2. AprilEnjoy the main flowering season.
  3. MayPrune immediately after flowering, removing some oldest stems at the base. how ›

Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.

Common problems

How to spot it. On soft new growth.

What to do. Encourage predators.

Powdery mildewfull sheet ›

How to spot it. Late in the season.

What to do. Improve airflow.

Capsid bugsfull sheet ›

How to spot it. Distorted new growth and small holes in leaves.

What to do. Treat if heavy.

Popular varieties

Weigela ‘Bristol Ruby’2–2.5 m × 2 m · May–JuneMay–JuneApril–MayApril–May
Weigela ‘Florida Variegata’AGM1.5–2 m × 2 m · May–JuneMay–JuneApril–MayApril–May

Questions

Weigela: is it hardy?

H6: Hardy in the vast majority of UK gardens. It survives down to −20 °C.

Can it grow in a pot?

For a few years while young.

Weigela: when do you prune it?

Prune immediately after flowering, removing some of the oldest stems at the base each year. In the calendar for UK, pruning falls in June.

Weigela: when does it flower?

In the climate of UK it flowers in May–June.

When do you feed it?

A general feed over a mulch in spring. It flowers on the previous year's wood, so the feed supports the new shoots made after the post-flowering prune — those are next year's flowers. Feeding months, UK: April.