Weigel early description. Weigela - two springs in your garden

Weigela is a deciduous shrub of the honeysuckle family. Wild varieties live in eastern and southeastern Asia, in Far East and the island of Java. Decorative weigela is very popular in Europe, where it often decorates homestead areas, parks and gardens. In our climatic conditions, gardeners can rightfully be proud of the presence of weigela on their site, since not everyone is able to grow and preserve a flowering plant.

Features of growing weigela

To grow this shrub, it is not enough to choose the right variety; it is important to take into account the characteristics of the microclimate and provide the weigela with proper care. Decorative weigela is moisture-loving and loves well-lit spaces, although it takes root well in the shade of sparse tree crowns. True, flowering in the shade will be weak, and the seeds will ripen late. The flower does not tolerate wind, especially from the north, so you need to choose protected places for growing.

IN garden design weigels are planted in hedges, in clumps or singly, low-growing species look great on alpine roller coaster. Weigels can be combined into groups, mixed with other shrubs (barberry, spirea, buldenezh) or with junipers.

At proper care Weigela flowering can occur twice a year - in May-June and in August-September. The second flowering is not very lush, but at the end of May the branches are completely covered with white, yellow, pink or red bell flowers. The color of the petals of this flower changes: young inflorescences gradually acquire a rich color.

Landing

Weigela is planted in the ground in the spring. The earth should warm up, but the buds are not yet swelling at this time. After autumn planting, shrubs often die in the first winter. Find an elevated, well-lit area on the south side of the house. Please note that in a draft, the shrub is unlikely to bloom or will fall off at the bud stage.

Weigels love loose and rich soil with humus - loamy or sandy loam with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. Of all the types of shrubs, only Middendorf's weigela grows on peaty soil. Seedlings older than three years are suitable for planting.

Ways to plant weigela

Weigela needs loose and permeable soil. Excessive moisture for shrubs is contraindicated; do not plant bushes in areas where water stagnates for a long time after floods or groundwater fit too high. Make acidic soil before planting the bush (in autumn).

Advice. Many seedlings do not take root when planted in autumn, so postpone the procedure until early spring, burying the seedlings at an angle and covering them with soil most crowns

When preparing a hole for planting, the quality of the soil is taken into account. In rich soil, a depression of 30-40 cm is sufficient; if the soil is poor, the depth should be increased. Create improved conditions for the plant by placing on the bottom:

drainage (15 cm broken bricks, sand or gravel),
a layer of fertile soil fertilized with nitrophoska (100 g per 1.5 buckets of compost).

The bush will take root easier if you treat the roots with a root formation stimulator.

Large varieties of weigela require free space so that they can develop normally. When planting several bushes, place them at a distance of at least one and a half meters. For small varieties, a gap of 70-80 centimeters will be quite sufficient.

Carefully straighten the roots of the seedling and make sure that no voids form when you fill the soil.

Attention! Do not bury the root collar more than 2 centimeters, so that after the soil settles it will be flush with the surface.

When the seedlings are placed in the ground, water thoroughly and mulch the area. The seedlings should be watered abundantly for another 3-4 days. If the summer is dry, water the young bushes regularly, next year watering may be more moderate.

Caring for weigela is easy: moderate watering, removing weeds, loosening the soil, fertilizing and pruning. This plant needs no more attention than many other flowering shrubs.

In a mulched area, frequent watering is not required. After a winter with little snow, especially if the shoots are frozen, in the spring the bushes are watered abundantly - 10 liters of water for each plant. The same watering regime is followed in dry, hot summers - a bucket of water every week. To provide air access to the root system and remove weeds, carefully loosen the soil around the bush without damaging the roots.

Important! If the bush is located in a dry area, aphids can settle on it, affecting the leaves and young branches. Keep an eye on the plant and regularly wash it with a strong stream of water.

Feeding and fertilizer

If, when planting bushes, you added nitrophoska and compost to the soil, you do not need to apply fertilizer in the next two years. In the third year, you should begin to stimulate the growth of leaves and shoots. To do this in the spring, when the snow has not yet completely melted, it is advisable to apply fertilizer under the bushes:

urea - 20 g/sq.m;
superphosphate - 10 g/sq.m;
potassium salt - 10 g/sq.m.

You can fertilize with ammophoska, diammophoska, Kemira-Lux or other fertilizer with phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen.

The second feeding will be useful when developing buds at the end of spring. Superphosphate (30 g per bush) is suitable. After this, the weigela will bloom luxuriantly, and the branches will strengthen for winter.

Before autumn digging, carry out a third feeding with wood ash (200 g per square meter). “Kemira – Autumn” works well, the dosage is indicated in the instructions.

Attention! After each feeding, water the bush generously and spray with soapy water and alcohol.

Weigela pruning

Weigela, like all shrubs, needs regular pruning. Sanitary pruning is carried out on young bushes. In early spring, cut off frozen, broken and unnecessary branches.

Mature plants require pruning to form a bush. When the first flowering ends, carefully trim the plant. This must be done before new shoots appear, on which flowers will bloom at the end of summer. If you were unable to prune the bush in time, skip the summer trimming, otherwise there will be no second flowering.

The third pruning is carried out once every three or four years to rejuvenate the bush. Remove all old branches (3 years or more), and shorten by a third. Stimulating pruning promotes the appearance of young shoots and prevents diseases that could settle in the bark of old branches. You can give the weigele a radical shake-up by cutting off all the shoots - after which the bush will quickly recover.

Advice. Between spring and autumn flowering, lighten mature bushes by trimming old shoots at the base.

Weigela transplant

Do not take literally the recommendations to replant plants, especially garden ones, in the spring. We are talking about replanting only when absolutely necessary: in case of an unsuccessfully chosen location, unsuitable soil, shade, etc. If replanting is necessary, it should be done in the spring, but do not replant the plants every year.

Dig out the weigela very carefully, try to preserve the roots as much as possible. Clean and Inspect root system, check for signs of disease, decay, plaque and other pathological changes. If you see that the roots are very damaged, there is no point in replanting the bush; it is better to grow a new plant from a cutting.

Advice. If you dig up a plant and find that its roots are intertwined in a tangle, try to untangle them without damaging them..

Do not replant the bush in the fall, since the probability of survival in this case is too low - the roots will not be able to take root and will die.

The shrub can be propagated by seeds, cuttings and layering.

Propagation by seeds

The seeds ripen in September, by November the capsules crack and collection can begin. seed material. Tie a few seed pods with gauze and cut them off when the seeds are completely ripe. Shake the contents onto paper and dry. Place the dried seeds in a paper bag and set aside in a dark, dry place until spring. The seeds remain viable for 1-2 years, but weigels grown from seeds almost never retain the varietal characteristics of their parent.

At home, you can sow seeds in a pot and create greenhouse conditions for them. In spring the shoots will emerge; leave the strongest ones until next year. Then the seedlings can be transplanted into a schoolhouse or planted under an adult bush for two years. The process, as you can see, is complex and long, and the result is unpredictable. We recommend propagating weigela vegetatively.

Vegetative propagation

It is much easier to propagate weigela with young green shoots, semi-lignified cuttings, shoots from a stump and layering.

Green cuttings

Cut off the young shoots of the current year, cut off the leaves completely or leave half the leaf blade. Treat one edge of the cutting with a root formation stimulator.

Planted out green cuttings at the end of June. Prepare the soil from peat and sand, upper layer– sand (3 cm). It is enough to deepen the cutting by 1 cm and cover it with the cut plastic bottle or film. Every day, let the cuttings breathe by raising the cover for several hours. The probability of rooting of a green cutting is very high, there are almost no failures.

Weigela grown in this way begins to bloom after two years. In order for the plant to develop more actively, it is recommended to cut off the buds.

Last year's cuttings

In early spring, cut off the semi-lignified cuttings. This must be done before the leaves begin to bloom. Treat the end with a rooting stimulator. You can plant the cuttings in a pot or in open ground. In the second case, choose a slightly shaded place. Cover the cutting with a jar and ventilate it daily. Growing weigela from a semi-lignified cutting is somewhat more difficult than from a green shoot. If a new shoot appears after a month, it means that rooting has occurred and the cutting can be pinched.

Young shoots from a stump

With this method of propagation, rooting occurs in the same way as in the cases described above.

Layerings

This shrub, like many others, often grows branches inclined to the ground. Bend such a shoot and scratch the bark where it touches the soil. Lubricate with root formation stimulator, pin and sprinkle with soil. Next year you will receive a full-fledged seedling. Disconnect the cuttings from the bush and place them in the designated place.

Dividing the bush

This method is usually used to propagate herbaceous plants, but shrubs can also be divided if they have grown too much, or when transplanting.

Dig up the bush during the dormant period and wash it off the ground. Divide the plant into parts; young roots along the edges of the bush are suitable for propagation. Before planting, trim all branches so that the root system can develop without unnecessary stress. Plants after division are immediately planted in the ground.

Weigela flowering

Many varieties of this shrub are good not only for their bright tubular bell flowers, but also for their leaves. Weigela foliage is velvety, green or purple, with a white border. But the main advantage of this species is still its abundant twice flowering. Weigels bloom for the first time on last year's shoots, and the second flowering occurs on young branches. Autumn flowering is not as active as spring, but the bush strewn with fluffy flowers still looks highest degree spectacular. Flowers in pockets of leaves are collected in inflorescences on the tops of the shoots. The size of each flower can reach five centimeters.

Problems, diseases, pests

Weigela rarely gets sick and is resistant to pests, but if there are signs of damage, urgent measures must be taken. The disease is indicated by the active falling of leaves, the appearance white plaque, spots of yellow or purple color.

Common pests of shrubs are aphids and scale insects. A timely detected problem can be easily eliminated after two treatments of the crown with any insecticide. Infusions of hot pepper, garlic or potato tops are also effective. Leaf spotting is treated with fungicides, a mixture of lime milk and copper sulfate or Topsin.

If the seedlings turn yellow and wither, their roots may be damaged by mole cricket or chafer larvae brought in with the compost. Water the soil with karbofos or actara.

It is much more difficult to overcome bacterial root canker, in which round swellings appear on the roots and harden over time. Unfortunately, we have not yet learned how to fight this disease and it is better to remove the bush before neighboring plants become infected.

Popular types

The bush reaches one and a half meters. This species has burgundy-colored leaves and red-pink flowers. This type feels good in the conditions middle zone. Shoots quickly recover after freezing.

A dwarf shrub with variegated leaves and clusters of white, pink or crimson flowers. Slow growth, suitable for rocky gardens.

The leaves of this type of weigela are distinguished by a white border on the edges of the leaves. Reaches one and a half meters in height.

A purple variety with a dense crown. Red- brown leaves and the richly colored flowers with yellow throats make this species especially popular.

Or Weigela Middendorff - the most winter-hardy species, suitable for growing in open spaces and under trees.

A group of weigela obtained as a result of hybridization. They are most adapted to the climate of the southern territories. The color of leaves and inflorescences is varied. Weigela flowers in wildlife are odorless, but hybridization has made it possible to endow the inflorescences with a subtle aroma.

In winter, weigela bushes freeze above the level of snow cover, so choose a place on the site where the snowdrifts are high.
After snowfalls and in the spring, when the snow becomes heavy, shake off the weigela branches to prevent them from breaking off.

It is useful to treat the bush with infusions:

onion peel (200 g leave for 5 days in 10 liters of water);
garlic (300 g of crushed, unpeeled garlic, soak for 24 hours in 10 liters of water);
potato tops (1 kg pour 10 liters of hot water and leave for 2 hours).

Spraying of plants is carried out in the evening.

Answers on questions

How long does a shrub live?

If you managed to create favorable conditions and organize good care, the shrub can live up to 50 years.

Why doesn't weigela bloom?

The plant may not bloom in the shade; due to lack of light, the shoots become woody, and flowering becomes very scarce or completely absent. Another reason is insufficient watering and lack of fertilizing. If these obstacles are excluded, pay attention to the root system; it may be damaged by pests.

How should the bush be cared for in winter?

After leaf fall, in October-November, the tree trunk area must be sprinkled with soil to a height of 20 cm. Bend the branches to the ground and press, being careful not to damage them. Cover the bush with roofing felt (spunbond) and strengthen the “roof” so that the wind does not tear it off in winter. The branches can not be bent, but tied together with twine, and the bush can be fenced with a net. Place dry leaves and spruce branches inside this structure. Properly insulate the structure. If weigela is left unprotected, the shoots will die in frost and flowering will not occur.

Weigela is a shrub plant, of which today there are about 15 varieties. The main advantage when landing is simple technology cultivation and care. Weigela is shade-tolerant. The flowers are collected in beautiful inflorescences and are up to 7 centimeters long. May be pink or red. After flowering, fruits form on the bush.

Weigela: planting and care open ground

The topic of this article is weigela: planting and care in open ground. From it you will learn how to grow this plant on your own, even if you are a beginner and inexperienced summer resident.

Planting weigela - where to start?

If you have ever seen weigela, you could not pass by this unique, aesthetic plant, which is distinguished by lush flowering, bright colors and beautiful foliage. The shrub will definitely become the main attraction of your garden; it will attract and amaze with its appearance.

When is the best time to plant weigela? The optimal time for planting is spring. Autumn planting leads to the death of plants in winter. For planting, you need to select a site on a hill so that there is no access to wind and hurricanes, which can cause flowers and buds to fall off. In order to keep weigela bright and beautiful, you need a lighted place. The soil needs to be fertile and rich useful substances. For planting, you need to choose seedlings older than 3 years.

How to plant a plant in the country? There are several recommendations to follow:

The hole for the seedling needs to be dug 40 centimeters deep. If the soil is not fertile, then a mixture is placed at the bottom of the hole: expanded clay, sand, crushed stone, compost.
To create the necessary conditions for plant rooting, the seedlings need to be treated with a growth stimulator.
When planting, the roots must be straightened. The root collar deepens by about 2 centimeters. After planting, the seedlings must be watered and the area mulched.

Weigela care - easy and simple

As you may have noticed, planting and growing technology are quite simple. Is it difficult to care for the plant? No. You just need to ensure timely watering, removing weeds, and loosening the soil. Sometimes you need to fertilize. If they were applied during planting, then they should not be fertilized for the next two years. After this period, it is recommended to apply mineral fertilizers, for example: ammophoska, diammofoska.

Fertilizers are applied only in May-June. They will help continue flowering and strengthen the branches. The next feeding is carried out closer to autumn plowing. It consists of adding wood ash or the drug Kemira. The shrub blooms twice per season. The flowering plant will give you a wonderful sight.

How does weigela reproduce?

The process can take place in different ways:

Seed method. The method is ineffective. This is due to the fact that the germination of seed material is low and lasts only a few years.
Cuttings. The cuttings are cut to 10 centimeters in size, the lower side is cleared of leaves, and the upper side is trimmed. They need to be treated with roots, after which they can be planted in a mixture of sand and peat. There is no need to root cuttings when planting. It is covered with a glass jar on top. It should be lifted daily to allow oxygen to enter.
By layering. The lower shoot is adjusted to the soil and covered from above. Next spring the plant will be fully grown and ready for planting.

How to trim weigela? Young plants only need sanitary pruning. It is carried out in the fall and involves getting rid of broken, frozen and unhealthy branches. Mature shrubs can be trimmed to shape. The process takes place in the summer. In addition, adult bushes need to be pruned for rejuvenation. Old branches are removed, all others are simply shortened.

Weigela pests and diseases

The greatest danger is from aphids and caterpillars. In hot weather, many other pests also appear. For destruction, special chemicals, which can be purchased at a specialty store. When plants turn yellow, the cause may be the active reproduction of the larvae of the cockchafer or mole cricket. To destroy them, you need to use a solution of karbofos or actara. Infections affecting weigela: rust, gray mold, spotting. Topsin solution is used to eliminate diseases.

So, weigela, planting and care open ground which is uncomplicated, will become an excellent attraction of your summer cottage. Do you have any doubts? We invite you to verify this personally.

Weigela is exquisite garden plant, which can decorate any garden with just one look. The shrub is incredibly beautiful during the flowering period, when bright tassels of inflorescences descend along its hanging branches. Instructions for caring for thuja here: .

Description and characteristics of weigela

The German professor of botany and chemistry K.E. von Weigel was the first to discover this type of flower, after which it was named. The entire genus of these flowers is presented in 15 species, and you can meet different varieties of weigela in the Far East and East Asia. This is a perennial lush deciduous shrub that has the ability to bloom again, and it is especially valued for the beauty of its inflorescences, a tubular-bell-shaped appearance, but sometimes Weigel also has single flowers. The leaves of the bush are also very beautiful - with a white green border.
weigela winter hardiness.

Weigela is a lover of warm climates and moderate heat. But Cold winter Not well tolerated by these flowers. Only certain winter-hardy varieties are able to survive the winter. But if frost does damage the plant, it can recover the same year and even bloom. In winter, it is better to cover shrubs in severe frosts. Read in detail and how much the seeds cost.

The height of weigel bushes depends on the type of plant, but most often the bush has a height of 1.5 m, only some species reach 3 m in height.

Types and varieties of weigela

The homeland of this weigela is Northern China, also Japan. The plant reaches a height of 3 m and prefers light partial shade. Then its variegated leaves turn green. Flowering begins in May and lasts until the end of June. On the side shoots, abundant boxes of inflorescences up to 5 cm in size, pale or bright pink, appear. This Weigel variety loves slightly acidic, moderately moist soil and does not tolerate stagnant water. Therefore, with careful watering, good lighting and not very dense planting of Weigela flowering shrubs reaches maximum flowering beauty lasting 20 days.

A variety of shrubs from the genus Honeysuckle. It takes root well in Western European climates. Plants reach 70-90 cm in height. They do not like windy places, but tolerate winter well. This variety is also distinguished by its resistance to substrate compaction. The bells are 3-4 cm in size and bright pink in color. This weigela can withstand dimly lit places, slightly alkaline and acidic soils. But in the spring you need to prune the shoots so that new ones with bright green leaves grow. The main thing is not to do this during the flowering period - from mid-May to the first half of June. These shrubs look great in landscape compositions and as a solitary plant. Some create a living flowering hedge from these bushes.

These weigels get their name from the fact that they contain species such as Korean, flowering, profusely flowering, and garden. This type is quite common; landscape designers like to use it when creating their compositions. The inflorescences of these oars are loose, most often dark pink. The shrub has lush green leaves. Care does not differ from the usual care of Weigel bushes - cover for the winter, avoid excessive watering, they like the optimal ratio of light and partial shade. It blooms from May until July, and again in early autumn. It is taken well in early spring in loose soil with a small addition of fertilizer. A drainage procedure is mandatory for its roots.

It has dark red, slightly brown leaves. It adds good growth per year. Requires good sunny places. Compact shrub - only up to 1 m in height. Abundant flowering can be observed in May-June, 4 flowers per inflorescence.
What distinguishes this weigela from the rest is its leaves, which have a variegated color. Also very beautiful flowers this variety is tubular, with wide bells of a wide variety of colors - from soft pink to rich double color.

Weigels - enough heat-loving plants. Also, grateful flowering from weigela can be achieved only with proper planting, cuttings, watering and fertilization. Among other types of weigela you can find the following popular types:

They are all similar to each other, but have some features regarding care and seating. Also, not all species are able to survive harsh winters or life in a pot before transplanting into open ground. Rarer types of weigela, which, nevertheless, are in demand on the market and are also liked by buyers for their limited distribution, are as follows:

Shrubs need to be fertilized in early spring. The fertilizer should preferably contain potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. In the second year, you can omit the fertilizer. Before planting shrubs in a hole, be sure to line the hole with expanded clay or broken red brick. What will serve as drainage. Weigela is sensitive to waterlogging, so watering should be careful and suitable for a specific weigela variety. The photo of weigela in landscape design, if it is planted with the correct distance between the bushes.

Photos of weigela in landscape design

Weigel, it is impossible to forget this beauty. Extraordinary inflorescences, reminiscent of bells, only huge, its compactness makes it exquisite and in demand.

Description and features of weigela

Weigela bush very popular among flower growers because of the decorative nature of the crown. If you choose the right place, the plant will delight you with flowering long time. Moreover, such a miracle in some varieties can be seen twice a season.

In the photo weigela is red

The first flowering can be seen in spring, the second in autumn. The height of a perennial bush can vary from 0.6 to 3 meters. It all depends on varieties wagers and type.

The buds are tubular-bell-shaped and vary in color. These can be pink, scarlet, lilac, yellow shades. Emerald leaves oval shape and elongated sharp tips. Slightly curved to the outside.

Planting and propagation of weigela

Weigela will produce lush blooms if you choose a consecrated area, but without exposure to northern winds. The soil is preferably fertile and loose.

Blooming delicate pink weigela

At planting weigela, choose a step of up to 2 meters, and leave the root collar on the top of the ground. Growing weigela in open ground Can be done vegetatively and by seeds.

Propagation of weigela by cuttings:

1. Cuttings that are green or woody can be used. But with the second option, flowering should wait up to 5 years.

2. Preparation of planting material is underway spring, weigela At this moment the kidneys should not be blocked.

3. Green shoots are cut off from the crown with a straight cut, 15 cm long.

4. Remove all but two leaves from the cutting.

5. Treat the cut with a growth stimulator and leave the branch for 12 hours in a dark and warm place (20 degrees C).

6. Mix peat and sand in equal parts.

7. Bury the cuttings half a centimeter into the substrate and cover the containers with a jar. To create a favorable microclimate.

8. Periodically ventilate and water the cuttings.

9. In a month and a half, rooting will occur.

10. It should be grown for 1.5 years. Only then plant it in open ground.

11. The appearance of new shoots will be a signal for pinching them. The procedure stimulates tillering.

Weigela white

By layering:

1. Place the side shoot that is close to the ground in a previously prepared groove.

2. Pin the branch and sprinkle with earth.

3. The upper part of the shoot should remain in the open air.

4. Rooting will begin next spring.

5. To make rooting more successful, you should break the bark of the branch that will be in the ground.

6. Grow the cuttings up to 3 years, only then send them to a permanent place.

Weigela propagation seeds:

1. Planting material remains viable for up to 2 years.

2. Sow the prepared seeds in open ground in the fall.

3. Shoots will appear in the spring.

4. Thread through the seedlings, leaving the strongest and strongest specimens.

5. Raise at school until age 2.

6. After time has passed, plant the bushes in a permanent place.

In the photo there is a blooming weigela

Weigela care

To have bushes with lush crown Some requirements must be met:

Water regularly. Give Special attention irrigation in the spring, if the winter was snowless and many shoots were frozen.

Loosen the soil after irrigation. Mulching with sawdust can be a good alternative. The soil retains moisture well and does not allow weeds to break through.

In early spring, when there is still snow on the ground, the first fertilizing is carried out. mineral fertilizers. Before the buds set, repeat the feeding. Last time Fertilizers should be applied in the fall. This time the composition should contain phosphorus and potassium.

Formative weigela pruning carry out after summer flowering ends, once every 2 years. It is on the growing shoots that new buds will appear autumn bloom. In the spring, be sure to carry out sanitary pruning. During the procedures, frozen, dry shoots are removed. It is worth remembering that branches are pruned to healthy tissue. After 3-4 years, crown rejuvenation should be carried out. In this case, branches on 3 parts of the entire bush are removed.

The bushes are perennial and do not need replanting. They grow in one place for up to 10 years.

IN weigela care Young specimens should be covered with spruce branches for wintering. In adult bushes, shoots can be tied and bent to the ground. They have amazing ability. They recover well after winter, even if the shoots are frozen.

Weigela early

Types and varieties of weigela

The Honeysuckle family, to which weigela belongs, has 15 species. Of these, three varieties can be found in the open spaces, to be precise, in the south of the Far East. In the wild, weigela lives in the South and East of Asia and China.

The most popular types and varieties of weigela

In the photo weigela variegated. It cannot be confused with other varieties. Since the peculiarity is considered to be light green oval-shaped leaves, framed by a border along the edge of the leaf with a sharp tip.

If you look at the bush from afar, it seems to be full of colorful shades. The shape of the inflorescences, like most varieties, is huge with different shades and sits on short peduncles.

In the photo weigela hybrid

Weigela blooming. Among his brothers he can be called a giant. Since its maximum height is up to 3 meters. If grown in the sun, the leaves have a variegated color.

Penumbra turns them into a green tint. Weigela flowering can be used as hedge. When planting it, you should take into account the step between seedlings - 1.5 m. If the bush is grown as an ornamental plant, the step is 2.5 m.

In nature, weigela can be found in Japan and Northern China. Flowering begins in May and lasts 2 months. Grows well in partial shade on slightly acidic soil with moderate humidity. Does not tolerate stagnant water. In order for the bushes to bloom luxuriantly, one should not allow too much thickening.

Weigela nana. medium-sized, stretches up to 90 cm in length. The variety is frost-resistant, so it has taken root well in the Western European climate.Bell-shaped inflorescences up to 4 cm in diameter have a soft pink tint with white tints.

Weigela nana

The bush loves warmth and cannot withstand northern winds. Only a quiet, sunny, slightly shaded place without winds will give the opportunity to reveal itself in full glory. It grows favorably in slightly alkaline and acidic soil.

Carry out sanitary pruning in the spring, then the shoots will not keep you waiting and will grow with maximum strength.Landscape designers do not miss the opportunity to use it in hedges and single plantings.

Weigela Bristol, ruby (Bristol Ruby). The giant stretches up to 3 meters and spreads up to 2 meters in girth. It opens well if the soil is nutritious with moderate moisture.

In the photo weigela bristol

The crop is grown even in cold regions of Russia, as it is considered frost-resistant variety. Even slight freezing of shoots in snowless winters ends fast recovery plants. Only after winter should all frozen branches be cut back to living tissue. Covering branches with spruce branches will help prevent freezing.

Weigela ruby with large carmine-red bells. The inflorescences are collected in umbrellas. Buds grow only on last year's shoots. Flowering repeats twice per season.

Weigela ruby

The first time in the spring, and the second time in the fall. The last flowering is certainly not as abundant as the first time. You can stimulate it timely pruning after the first flowering.

Weigela variegata(Variegata). Inflorescences of small diameter (3 cm) are collected in panicles and shade the bush with a lilac tint with a white tint.

Weigela variegata

Leaves of the plant are up to 5 cm long Green colour. There is a barely noticeable white border along the outer edge.The medium-sized bush is popular among gardeners, as it is easy to care for, frost-resistant, and tolerates dry weather well.

Weigela red. The bright and rich colors of the shrub made it especially popular among landscape designers.

Weigela hybrida. in the form of a compact bush 1.5 meters in length and a chic crown will become the pride of any garden.

Bell buds can be lilac, white, pink, purple, red. The inflorescences gather into a loose rosette and emit a unique aroma. It differs from its counterparts in that the flowers produce young shoots.

The derivative of the appearance of the variety are several representatives: abundantly flowering, Korean, flowering, garden weigela.The improved characteristics of the shrub, unlike its parents, made it especially popular and most in demand among gardeners.

Weigela purpurea seedling

Weigela purpurea. The deciduous shrub extends only 1 meter. Therefore, its compact forms are widely used in landscape design.The crown is densely strewn with bell buds, which makes it look elegant and festive.

The oval-shaped leaves are slightly narrowed at the end and change color as they grow. When they are born, they are brown in color with red notes. Then they acquire a normal green tint.

Veigela Alexandra

The bush reveals itself in all its glory in well-drained and fertile soil. In hot weather, it requires abundant watering in the evening.Flowering occurs in one approach, from June until frost.

Weigela ed. prince. bred by American breeders. The dimensions of the bush are 1.5x1.2 meters, where 1.5 is height, 1.2 is width. It is wildly successful for its decorative effect, rapid growth, and unpretentiousness.

Weigela Prince

The leaves are oval with a sharp tip. The inflorescences of a blood-red hue give the bush a special charm, sophistication and contrast favorably with the background of the leaves.

Weigela Prince offers to admire exquisite flowers twice a season. The first time is at the end of spring, the second time is in the fall (September). Inflorescences grow on last year's shoots. Therefore, after summer flowering, pruning is necessary. Lush flowering can only be expected in sunny areas.

The prince does not like waterlogged soils, but does well on loose, well-drained soil. For single landings, a step of up to 2 meters should be maintained. Do not forget about the root collar when planting; it should not go deep into the ground.

Weigel Middendorf

Weigel Middendorf. The bush is suitable for rocky soils. Since natural specimens grow on rocky areas, along streams and rivers.

Bell-shaped shrub large size. The inside of the flower is yellow in color and gently shimmers with white shades on the outside.

Flowering and seed formation occurs twice a season. Its compact height of 1.5 meters allows it to be used in landscape design for single and group plantings.

Weigela diseases and pests

Weigela susceptible to the following pests:

Aphid. Insects in the form of small midges attack the plant. At the same time, they not only drink the life-giving juice of the leaves, they are also carriers of fungal diseases.

Symptoms: leaves become covered as if with sweet syrup, curl, and fall off. Sticky surface subsequently attracts ants. There is one pattern: if ants appear, then aphids should be expected and vice versa.

Fight: on early stage You can sample insects mechanically. To do this, turn on the water and take a shower. Use the help of ladybugs.

Sparrows also actively fight pests. To attract them, you need to place feeders and drinking bowls in the garden. If the infestation is severe, treat the bushes with insecticides.

Damage to weigela aphids

The larvae of the May beetle and mole cricket are often brought in directly with compost or humus. It is necessary to carefully inspect the fertilizer before placing it in the planting hole. Treating the soil with insecticides before planting will also help prevent their proliferation.

Spider mites, thrips. is more often affected by pests in hot weather. In order to prevent infection, it is good to treat with insecticidal tinctures of wormwood, garlic, and hot pepper.

Among the diseases of weigela we can note fusarium, powdery mildew. To prevent their disease, it is worth remembering agricultural technology. It’s a good idea to carry out preventive treatments in the spring. And also avoid crowding of plantings. To do this, remove shoots growing inward in time, do sanitary pruning, and rejuvenation.

Weigela ( Weigela) – spring-flowering shrubs from 1 to 3 m tall. Weigels bloom best in a sunny place, but can also tolerate partial shade. Among other characteristics of weigela is the low frost resistance of plants, requiring planting in protected places, which is compensated by high decorativeness and a variety of species and varieties.

Weigela shrubs are demanding on soil moisture and fertility. They are propagated by summer and winter cuttings. Species can also be propagated by seeds.

In gardens, the forms and varieties most often grown are grouped into the group of hybrid weigels:

Hybrid weigela (W. hybrida)

Hybrid weigela ‘ Gustave Mallet’

Hybrid weigela ‘ Styriaca’

Hybrid weigela ‘ Eva Rathke’

The site will also be decorated with rather unpretentious species with pink flowers - blooming weigela:

Blooming weigela ( W. florida)

Early blooming weigela ( W. praecox)

Blooming Middendorff's weigela (W. middendorffiana) with yellow flowers.

Weigels look great in garden design, as lining to tall trees.

If you have a large area, use this technique, because in such conditions ornamental shrubs weigela the best way protected from frost and cold wind.

Ornamental weigela shrub: photo and description

This plant was named after the very famous German pharmacologist, botanist and chemist Christian von Weigel. The shrub, which is naturally distributed in the eastern and southeastern parts of Asia, in the Far East and on the island of Java, has taken root well in our area. Weigela belongs to the Honeysuckle family and has fifteen species. However, only seven varieties are most often grown by humans. There are also a dozen decorative varieties flowering bush weigela, which are very popular for landscape decoration due to the beauty of their flowers and ease of care.

You can see the weigela shrub in the photo, the description of which should begin with the fact that this plant loves moisture and patiently tolerates poorly lit areas:

Weigela is distinguished by the presence of flowers in the shape of bells or funnels, which can grow up to 5 cm. The flowers are located on the branches singly or collected in loose inflorescences of various shades - cream, pale pink, bright red or yellow. The color of the buds can vary from the lightest tones to the most saturated. It is characteristic that with proper care of the weigela shrub, after its flowering, fruits with small seeds are sure to appear.

For true gardeners, the plant is considered a real find, because it blooms twice: the first time - from mid-May to almost the end of June, giving a lush color, and the second time - from the end of summer to the end of September, although not so lush.

Please note that in September the seeds ripen, which will be useful for further propagation of weigela. Just don’t rush to collect them: this should be done no earlier than November, when the boxes begin to crack. Experts advise that to prevent the seeds from falling into the soil ahead of time, several seeds should be wrapped in ordinary gauze and secured to the branches. When the time comes, you just need to carefully cut off the box wrapped in gauze, bring it into the house and thoroughly dry its contents. Until spring, seeds should be stored in a dark, dry place. Just remember that growing weigela from seeds does not guarantee that the future plant will inherit the varietal qualities of its parents.

How to plant weigela in spring

Planting weigela shrubs is considered most favorable and effective if it is carried out in the spring, when the soil has already warmed up sufficiently. Unfortunately, experienced gardeners found that attempts to plant weigela shrubs in the fall and subsequently care for the plant were not successful. The seedlings died at the first winter frosts.

It should be taken into account that for planting bushes it is better to choose a place that is located on a hill and must be protected from strong winds. If these measures are not taken, the opened buds may immediately fall off. Therefore, remember that it is best to place weigela in the garden on the south side of a country house.
It has already been said that the plant is relatively tolerant of shaded areas. But anyone who wants to admire the abundant and colorful flowering of weigela in landscape design should choose a well-lit place for planting.
For shrubs, loose soil that is rich in humus is best suited. Taking this into account, gardeners plant plants in sandy or loamy soil. But if you are thinking about how to plant weigela called “Middendorf”, remember that slightly acidic peaty soil will also be favorable for it.
So, how to plant weigela in the spring so that your garden will soon be decorated with wonderful flowers? To do this, it is necessary to prepare a hole, the depth of which will reach no more than 40 cm. But this is taking into account the fact that the soil on the site is fertile.
Otherwise, you will need to increase the depth so that not only a drainage layer from crushed bricks, sand or gravel 15 cm thick, but also soil with fertilizers.
Don't forget to mix the nutrient supplement thoroughly with the compost. By the way, in order to increase the likelihood that the plant will take root, it is recommended to treat it with a root formation stimulator.
Please also keep in mind that if you choose large varieties weigels, which can reach a height of up to two meters, it is mandatory to plant each seedling at a distance of at least one and a half meters, or better even two.

If you have prepared weigela species for planting that do not grow above one meter, it will be enough to dig holes at a distance of about 80 cm.
In order to make it easier for you in the future to care for and grow weigela, make sure that when planting the plant, its roots are neatly straightened. And do not deepen the neck of the bush by more than 2 cm. Be sure to water the soil well after planting.
How to care for weigela to grow a lush shrub
When you have completed spring planting, you should think about how to care for weigela. There is nothing super complicated in this task. You just need to follow certain rules.
Firstly, be sure to water the seedling during dry periods. But if you were prudent and carried out the mulching procedure - covering the soil around the plant with a layer, for example, of bark - then you are not in danger of frequent watering.
Secondly, you need to ensure that the area where weigela grows remains clean: that is, you need to regularly and very carefully pull out the weeds so as not to catch the root system of the bush.
Third, do not forget to thoroughly loosen the soil.

If you follow all the listed instructions, you will soon achieve the result that you can see in the photo of the flowering weigela shrub:
Of course, when wondering how to grow weigela healthy and blooming luxuriantly, you immediately remember adding nutritional fertilizers to the soil. True, if you have already done this in advance - added compost under the roots when planting - then at this moment you can safely forget for the next two years. But in the third year you will still have to work hard and in early spring be sure to fertilize the soil minerals containing phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. This will ensure the growth of young shoots and leaves.
We must not forget that it will help to achieve the desired result, which you can appreciate if you look at the photo below, caring for weigela shrubs, which involves fertilizing in late May or early June:
This is when the plant produces buds.
Therefore, fertilizers must necessarily contain potassium and phosphorus. This will help prolong the flowering period and make it truly magnificent.
But the third time you need to pay special attention to fertilizing the bushes before the autumn digging. Then you should add 200 g/m2 wood ash to the soil.
Be sure to sprinkle the area around the plant with soil to form a mound when all the leaves have fallen off. This moment will come around the end of October or early November. In addition, bend the branches of the bush to the ground and press it to it, and cover the top with spunbond or roofing felt. All this is done in order to protect weigela from future winter frosts.

Remember, in order to achieve the effect that you see in the photo, you need to care and grow weigela in accordance with the rules and procedures that we have described to you:
Reproduction of weigela in spring by cuttings and layering
We talked a little about how to propagate weigela at the very beginning of the article. It has been said that most in a simple way sowing of seeds is considered, but this method does not guarantee the preservation of varietal qualities. True, if some seeds did end up in the soil in the fall, don’t be upset: when they germinate in the spring, you can leave strong seedlings and grow them for another two years, so that you can then replant them in a permanent place.
For implementation this method necessary:
Cuttings are cut from green shoots of the current year, which are cut at the end of June, or last year, cut in early spring and already woody. Their length is no more than 15 cm.
Next, they are removed from the cuttings lower leaves, and the upper ones are shortened by half. Be sure to treat the bottom of the cuttings with a substance that contains indolylbutyric acid.
Then the cuttings are carefully planted in a mixture of peat and sand. You just need to take into account that the planting should not be deep - it will be enough to immerse the cuttings 1 cm.
To ensure successful propagation of weigela by cuttings in the spring, gardeners cover each cutting with a plastic bottle or glass jar. They will need to be removed daily to ventilate and moisten the cuttings.
Any experienced gardener knows perfectly well how to propagate weigela by cuttings, so when they notice a new shoot from one or another cutting, they immediately pinch it to stimulate the tillering process.

You can also resort to growing shrubs using layering. In this case, any of the lower shoots must be bent to the ground, and in the place where it comes into contact with the ground, the bark of the layer should be carefully slightly damaged and attached to the ground, carefully sprinkling it.
Remember that both layering and cuttings should be grown for three years before planting.
How to properly prune young weigela in spring
Of course, like any other bush, this plant obligatory haircut. Sanitary pruning of weigela in spring is prescribed for young shrubs: the procedure involves removing diseased, broken, frozen and thickening branches.
The main pruning of weigela is carried out for decorative purposes in summer period. This procedure can be performed in the spring, but only for prevention.
To understand how to trim weigela, wait until the buds begin to swell. Only then will you be able to assess the scope of the upcoming work.
And now we offer you step by step instructions how to trim weigela correctly:
First, you should carefully examine the branches of the bush.
Then you need to find weak or frozen shoots.
Naturally, delete them.
Those shoots that are partially frozen, simply cut them off to the outermost healthy bud.

Do not forget that in the spring only sanitary pruning is carried out. You need to give the remaining shoots time to grow until the summer.

By the way, another piece of advice that experts often give is as follows: even if the whole shoot is frozen, when pruning, leave a small part of it (no more than 6 cm), which is closer to the ground. There is a possibility that a bud located close to the soil will still wake up and become a strong shoot.
Pruning adult weigela in spring
How to prune weigela, which is already considered an adult plant? In this case, gardeners carry out formative pruning in mid-summer, when the first flowering has already passed and new shoots have not yet had time to grow. Just remember that re-blooming will occur precisely on the shoots of the current year. Therefore, if you did not have time and the shoots began to grow, it is better to abandon summer pruning altogether.
How to prune weigela in the spring so that the number of buds increases each time and the growth of new shoots accelerates? In truth, this will depend on the plant variety you choose.
Remember also that anti-aging pruning is good for adult bushes once every three to four years: it involves the complete removal of all branches older than three years, and those that are younger - shortening by a third.
Weigela pests and diseases
You need to be prepared that various varieties and weigela species are often attacked by pests such as leaf-eating caterpillars and aphids. In addition, thrips and spider mites pose a threat during the hot season.
Unfortunately, to combat all this abomination they use very harmful environment pesticides. You can try to fight using other methods: you should resort to herbal insecticidal infusions that contain wormwood, garlic or hot pepper.

If it gets to the point where the seedlings begin to turn yellow and wither, you will have to fill the soil with a solution of karbofos or actara. Only these moderate pesticides will be able to combat the larvae of the cockchafer or mole cricket, which most likely got into the root system with the compost during planting.
Another danger to the plant is gray rot, rust and spotting. To get rid of such fungal and bacterial diseases, treatment with lime milk with the addition of copper sulfate is most often used.
Winter-hardy weigela species and varieties for the Moscow region: photos and descriptions
Look at the photos of weigela varieties: among them there are ornamental plants, and those that are able to withstand even the most severe frosts in our area. Specifically for winter-hardy Weigela varieties that are most valued by gardeners include the following varieties of shrubs:
Weigela early, or pleasant- a plant that reaches up to two meters in height and grows in the Far East. This species is characterized by drooping leaves and a spherical crown. The inflorescence contains 2-3 flowers, distinguished by a bright pink hue. However, they can also be colored in purple undertones with a yellowish throat. The variety differs in that it blooms at the end of May. This lasts no longer than 30 days.
Another curious variety of weigela, the description of which differs the following characteristics– height up to three meters and shoots with two rows of hairs – is flowering weigela.
Its second name is Florida. It has leaves with short petioles and inflorescences with 3-4 pink buds. The plant blooms for three weeks at the end of May. The winter-hardy variety weigela for
The Moscow region has several common forms: – Alba, Victoria, pink, purple and Variegata.
Alba is distinguished by its tiny size and white flowers, which turn pink at the end of flowering.
Victoria is a bush that grows up to one meter, blooming with dark red inflorescences.
Red weigela, or, as it is also called, purple, reaches a height of 1.5 m and has rich pink flowers that open in June-July.
Weigela pink blooms Very unusual flowers: They are painted in delicate shades of pink on the outside, and almost white on the inside.
Variegata is considered the most persistent - a shrub that is covered with small leaves and rich pink flowers, which are collected in brushes.
To understand what the listed types of weigela look like, take a look at the photos below:
One more suitable variety weigela for the Moscow region is considered a hybrid, which is distinguished by its lush color and spreading crown. The shrub grows to a height of approximately 1.5 m. Depending on the variety, it can bloom with purple, white, lilac, red-violet and pink flowers.
For example, for one of the most popular types– Bristol Ruby – characterized by purple buds with ruby edges.
Sometimes there are plants whose flowers have an orange center. By the way, this shrub was bred in the USA back in 1941. But the Red Prince variety, which was also introduced to the world by American breeders, has rich red buds that stand out brightly against the background of green foliage.
Weigela middendorff shrub also took its place in the landscape design of many country houses. It has yellow flowers that can grow singly or be collected in small inflorescences of up to 6 buds. The bush blooms twice a year.
You can see in the photo the described types and varieties of weigela, which, of course, are not limited to the entire huge range of breeding varieties of this plant:
We invite you to pay attention to the following types such a popular ornamental shrub.
Weigela profusely blooming, which is considered the fastest growing variety. It can reach up to 3 meters in height and has flowers that are initially red but turn pale pink towards the end of flowering. It produces wild color in May.
Korean variety It is distinguished by bell-shaped buds collected in inflorescences, the color of which varies from white to a real rich pink. The flowering period is very short - about 15 days. This wonderful phenomenon can be observed in early June.
Garden weigela came to us from Japan itself. It reaches a height of up to 1 m. It is very reminiscent of the Korean shrub, but, unlike it, it is characterized by abundant flowering with carmine buds, collected in inflorescences of 3 flowers. In shape they resemble something between tubes and bells. Lush color can be observed almost at the very end of May, which will continue until the very beginning of July. The plant must be covered in winter. However, with age, the shrub is characterized by the acquisition of a certain frost resistance.
Veigel Maksimovich- This is a very low shrub - about 1.5 m in height. The plant is characterized by drooping leaves, slightly pointed at the tops. Its flowers reach up to 4 cm in size, are light yellow in color and bell-shaped. It usually blooms in our latitudes in the second half of May and almost until mid-June. But the seeds ripen only by mid-October.
Do you want to know what new plant species are now popular abroad? Then quickly look at the photo and read the description of weigela varieties below:
Firstly, a tall bush with white buds called “Candida” is considered fashionable.
In second place is Weigela "Styriaca", which is distinguished by pink inflorescences
Marc Tellier's weigela, which reaches a height of up to 3 m and has large pink flowers
'Pierre Duchartre' has dark brown buds.
Should these varieties really remain popular only abroad? We are sure that you will also want to experiment with the plants described.
Weigela in garden landscape design (with photo)
Weigels in the design of any garden become a truly magnificent decoration: they can be placed under sparsely standing trees, planted at the edge, complement rocky areas of the landscape, or create a magnificent hedge.
The plant will give your lawn that missing zest. It can be placed in the center of the lawn or placed four bushes at once in the corners of the plot to create a “watchtower” effect. By the way, you can achieve the same effect by planting two shrubs right at the threshold of your mansion.
If you are not deprived of imagination, you will come up with the idea of creating a real park. This can be organized by placing weigela in a mixborder. Or, as the tallest shrub, place it on the back line so as not to block the light.
Just be sure to make sure that Sun rays did not reach the plant. You need to consider the placement of cardinal directions, which will help plant the bush where it will not be constantly in the shade. Another option is that large trees planted in front of the weigela let a sufficient amount of sunlight pass through their foliage.
Take a look at the photo of weigela in landscape design: what stunning plant ensembles real garden geniuses manage to create!
These are the mixed compositions that combine, for example, cotoneasters, low-growing, conifers– junipers and cypresses – with weigela please the eye and bring the desired feeling of peace. But even planted single weigela shrubs look no less beautiful at the gate or at the front entrance.
But if you still have about a dozen multi-colored plants, skilled gardeners recommend trying a little and placing them, for example, in three groups, which will be divided by varietal or species diversity. And a lot depends on how you want to compositionally decorate your site.
Place plants picturesquely on the lawn, planting 3-5 specimens in each group. Be sure to ensure that the seedlings are compatible with each other color scheme, by flowering time, by the size of the bushes and their shape. By the way, if you decide to take such a step, do not forget to regularly mulch the area. Moreover, if the soil is loose, it would be very appropriate to plant perennials between the weigela bushes - ferns, hostas, astilbe, which can decorate any garden all year round.
And to once again be convinced of the beauty of the plant described in this article, look at the photo of the weigela shrub, which has become the choice of many experienced gardeners: