Weigela - beautiful ornamental plant which is a species of honeysuckle. Sprawling weigela bushes with beautiful unusual colors used in landscape design, they decorate gardens, bred on garden plots, planted near the house. Breeders have bred a lot different varieties weigels, each species differs in the shape and color of flowers.
General characteristics of the plant
The weigela plant was bred by the German botanist Weigel, after whom it was named. There are 15 main types of this plant, of which only seven are most popular. In addition, breeders have bred several hybrids and highly decorative varieties.
Breeding varieties and hybrids are used more often in decorative purposes... The plant grows wild in the regions of Southeast Asia and the Far East. A distinctive feature of the shrub is its ability to change its color during growth from light to dark tones by the end of flowering.
The most common pure varieties include the following types of weigel:
- Weigel Middendorf
- japanese
- pleasant
- early weigela
- korean
- blooming
Flowers can have a variety of colors: from delicate shades to rich bright red. Weigela blooms twice a year. Once in spring - in May, another time in autumn - at the beginning of September. The flowering period is 20 days, some varieties can bloom throughout the month. The climate of Russia is well suited for breeding. different types of this plant.
Weigela early and Weigela Midendorf
Early weigela bushes can reach up to two meters in height. This variety has a very dense crown. Early weigela branches are densely covered with foliage. Under the mass of leaves, the stems themselves are practically invisible. The flowers have delicate light purple hues. They are collected in two or three pieces on lateral shoots.
Early weigela is the most popular variety among gardeners. It blooms very early, as the name of the plant indicates. The flowering period can last up to 30 days. They use it to create a hedge, which does not need to be cut.
Weigela Miedendorf
This variety is compact in size, it grows up to 1.5 meters in height. Its height does not exceed one and a half meters. The plant has a neat crown, which is decorated with flowers. yellow color with orange specks, the leaves are pubescent along the veins. The bush blooms until the frost. Bushes are planted in groups, single plantings are also permissible.
Weigela blooming and Weigela Japanese
This plant is unpretentious, but it does not tolerate frost and cold and loves sunny places. For the winter, the bushes need to be insulated. Blooming weigela it is not very high, usually, it grows no more than a meter. Blooming weigela blends well with other flowering plants and is used as hedges. Singly planted bushes also look good, the plant looks especially beautiful during flowering.
Weigela Japanese
A short shrub with oval leaves pointed at the top and flowers in the form of bells, no more than 3 cm in size. The plant does not tolerate frost well. The Japanese weigla arrived in Russia from the Japanese mountains, where it grows wild. This species is suitable for regions with warm climates, since harsh winters can ruin the Japanese weigela.
Weigela pleasant and Vegela garden
This type of bush belongs to wild plants. Weigela pleasant grows mainly in the Primorsky Territory, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands. It is a short shrub with medium-sized funnel-shaped flowers of pink-purple color. Flowers are placed on the end of the lateral shoots. The flowering period is in spring and autumn.
Weigela Korean
This variety can reach impressive sizes. Garden weigela bushes grow up to five meters in conditions wildlife, in culture, the plant does not grow above 1.5 meters. Flowers 3.5 cm in size change their color during flowering from pale pink to bright carmine.
Kreiskaya weigela, does not tolerate cold weather. She will need to be covered for the winter.
Weigela garden
The plant comes from Japanese deciduous forests. This is a low-growing shrub, the height of which is no more than one meter. The leaves sit on short petioles, the flowers are tubular-bell-shaped. The flowering period is quite long. At this time, on the bush appears great amount flowers. For the winter, the plant does not have time to shed its foliage, therefore it hibernates with it. This fact is a distinctive feature of this variety.
Hybrid varieties
In addition to pure varieties, hybrids are actively used in landscape design. Several dozen hybrid forms of this shrub have been bred by breeders. Hybrid varieties are obtained by crossing the main plant varieties. The most popular hybrids are:
Rosea, this variety appeared as a result of crossing Korean and flowering varieties, the bush is large, beautiful flowers pale pink in color, the variety withstands cold well and belongs to the winter-hardy species;
the hybrid variety Gustav Malle was obtained by crossing a flowering and Korean weigela, it is a fairly tall shrub, it reaches more than two meters in height, the flowers are very large, 5 cm in size, have an original color: the predominant color is pink-carmine, there is white at the edges border;
Eva Ratke was bred in Poland, the variety was formed by mixing Korean and blooming species, the bush is low, differs in tubular shiny flowers, tolerates winter only under the condition of shelter and additional protection from frost.
Breeders annually develop new varieties. They have developed a special unique variety called Carnival. The hybrid is distinguished by the presence of flowers of different colors on one bush: from light white to rich purple. Hybrid varieties, as a rule, are taller, have large flowers and are distinguished by original decorative qualities.
Application in landscape design
Weigela has spectacular flowers, its leaves have different shape and colors, all this allows you to use it for landscaping and decorating areas. Designers create original compositions from these bushes. Weigela looks very impressive as a hedge. To do this, it is necessary to maintain a certain distance between the bushes.
Low-growing varieties are ideal for creating alpine slides. Flowering bushes stand out beautifully against the background of conifers or near tall trees. With the help of bushes, you can create mixborders. For these purposes, low varieties are chosen, and the plant can be supplemented with the help of a delicate iris, dwarf onion, any early flowering plants are suitable.
It is a beautifully flowering garden shrub from the hydrangea family. It is often found in the courtyards of houses with pink and white flowers. The beauty of the bush remains even after flowering. He is a frequent visitor to the gardens, since caring for him is not particularly difficult, the main thing is to adhere to certain rules of care, to do during pruning so that the shrub retains its dense, beautiful shape.
Weigela originates from North China and Japan. In Europe, they gave the name in honor of the professor, director of the botanical garden in the 19th century, K.E. Weigel. - read here.
Varieties and types of weigela
Over the years, breeders have bred new species of this plant by crossing 2-3 species of weigela. This resulted in varieties with more decorative flowers.
Weigel Middendorf
This shrub blooms with white flowers, collected in bunches of 2-5 flowers each. The shape of the flowers resembles white-yellow bells with orange splashes. It blooms twice a year in early May and autumn after the heat has subsided and until the frost. The duration of flowering for about a month depends on the coming heat.
Bristol Ruby Weigela early
A shrub that reaches a height of two meters and has drooping flowers of bright pink color, collected in bunches of 2-3 pieces. Bloom begins in May and lasts 15 days, depending on weather conditions, but sometimes bloom lasts a month. The foliage takes on bright autumn colors at the end of the first month of autumn. This is the most unpretentious weigela among its fellows.
Weigela garden
This is a shrub that does not more than a meter height. Flowers have the shape of a bell-pink-carmine color, collected in inflorescences of 4 pieces. Blooms from mid-May to early June.
Photo by Weigel Nana Purpurea Weigela blooming
This fast-growing, truly tall shrub grows up to 3 m in height and has an extensive crown reaching 3.5 meters in diameter. Its flowers are tubular, 3 cm long, dark pink at the edge and white inside. Flowers are collected in bunches of 4 and are located on short shoots growing on the sides. The flowering period is 20 days, starting from the first days of May.
Florida ‘Rosea’ (‘Rosea’) - a hybrid of weigela flowering and Korean Weigela Korean
This type of shrub grows up to one and a half meters and is very common on the coast in Japan. This shrub can tolerate light shade. Flowers, when dissolved in white, gradually acquire a red tint. Flowering begins in early summer and lasts 15 days.
Weigela profusely
This is also a shrub, reaching a height of 3 m, but its flowers are dark red, fading, turn pale and turn pink. Pollen lasts 3 weeks, starting in mid-May. A fast-growing shrub with long, curved branches.
Planting and caring for the plant
Weigela is planted in mid-spring and before the onset of heat. It is possible to plant a shrub in the fall only in warm regions of the country, for example, in the Moscow region, the shrub planted in September will not have time to take root before the cold weather, and in the Krasnodar Territory it is better to plant it in September, it will take root completely before the cold weather.
When purchasing a shrub sapling, you need to find out not only its variety, but also the age of the plant. Because shrubs from 3 years old tolerate transplantation better. In the spring, they are planted in a selected place, as early as possible, even before the buds begin to bloom.
If there is a close occurrence of groundwater in the landing sites of the weigela, then it is necessary to make drainage in the dug hole. A place for a bush is chosen well-lit and at the same time protected from cold winter winds.
Since soon after planting the plant, the sun begins to bake strongly, then in such weather, timely watering of the seedling is necessary. You also need to get rid of large weeds growing around the young shrub.
The soil
The shrub loves loose soil without moisture stagnation. In the dug hole, drainage is made about 15 cm high, then leaf humus, wood ash and sand are added to the hole. Before planting, the roots of the plant should be treated with any growth stimulant.
When planting, do not deepen the root collar of the bush too much. After the seedling has been planted, the ground around it is carefully trampled down and well moistened.
Watering weigela
So the plant loves water very much, then if there is no rain in the region, watering should be regular. Once a week, 10 liters are poured under the bush. warm water... After watering, on the second day, it is necessary to loosen it to get air to the roots.
Top dressing
To make the shrub look attractive, full mineral fertilizers are applied every spring, in which the presence of potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus is required, which, in fact, will ensure good flowering of the bush.
Top dressing is usually done in three stages:
- In early spring, they are fed with potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. It helps to recover from a cold winter.
- During the period of bud formation, fertilize with phosphorus and potassium. This can prolong the life of the flowers.
- In August, it is necessary to make a digging wood ash... But to bring in no later than August, otherwise the bark will not ripen, and the bush may not survive the winter.
Pests
The shrub can be affected by aphids and caterpillars. To get rid of uninvited guests eating vegetative mass, shrubs must be sprayed with special poisons sold in specialized garden centers. When working with chemicals, you must adhere to safety instructions so as not to harm your body.
Pruning
Pruning should be done approximately every two years. In this case, only old shoots are removed. Pruning is done immediately after the plant has faded by cutting out old branches and shortening young shoots by half their length. This is done so that the shrub grows wide and the branches are more stable.
The same pruning is carried out in early spring before bud break. Those parts of the plant that are frozen and blackened are cut out. The blackened shoot is cut to the healthy tissue of the branch.
Shrubs over five years old are pruned for rejuvenation. For this, all the old woody parts of the bush are cut out, leaving only those that are young and flexible, but they are also shortened by one third.
Preparing for winter
This beautiful bush lover of southern latitudes. Therefore, it is difficult for him to endure the cold season. Although it is recovering in the same year after frosts and can even bloom, although not as luxuriantly as usual. It is still better to take care of your pet and shelter him for the winter.
Before the onset of a cold snap, when all the leaves fall off the bush, it is tied and carefully bent to the ground. After that, if severe cold snaps are expected to -10, the shrub is covered with any covering material, for example, lutrasil.
Propagation by cuttings
The first method can be propagated by cutting cuttings 10 cm long at the beginning of summer and treating the lower cut with heteroauxin. The lower leaves on the cuttings are removed, after which the cuttings are placed in a dark place and stored at 22 degrees for half a day.
After that, they are planted in seedling boxes using seedling soil. It is necessary to deepen to the place where the first leaves grew from the bottom of the cutting. After planting, slightly moisten the soil and cover with a bag. The first roots appear after a month and a half. And flowering begins after the bush reaches three years of age.
Green cuttings are rooted by 90%, and if you use cuttings from previous years, then the rooted ones will be much less. A month later, if rooting is successful, pinch the top a third of the height for the splendor of the bush.
Reproduction by seeds occurs at no additional cost. The seeds are not buried in the ground, but scattered over the surface, lightly sprinkled with sand. After that, the bowl is covered with glass and after 20 days the first shoots will appear.
But, based on the experience of gardeners, reproduction of weigela using cuttings is much more reliable, although there is a certain percentage of cuttings fallout.
You can also try to root it by layering. To do this, the lower branch of the bush is bent to the ground and in the place where it comes into contact with it, the bark is slightly damaged and treated with any preparation for rooting. The branch is fixed with a spear and sprinkled with earth. After the bush begins an independent life, it is cut off from the mother bush and transplanted to a permanent place.
Weigela in landscape design
This shrub is widely used in landscaping. But it is very attractive not only during flowering, but also with its color of foliage, in some varieties it is two and three colors. Weigela with spirea looks very good, since they bloom at the same time.
Having a good imagination, it can be combined with various varieties of lilacs, making them the same pruning height. The bush near the wall of the house will look great in the company of evergreens and small flowers at the feet of the bush.
And they are used for urban decoration.
Description of the genus
Did you know? The genus is named after the famous German botanist Christian Ehrenfried von Weigel.
Popular species and varieties
The genus has from twelve to fifteen varieties. In the nature of our latitudes, there are three wild species, on the basis of which nine have been derived. In this article, we will look at the most popular types.
Hybrid
The abundantly blooming hybrid weigela reaches one and a half meters in height. To decorate their own gardeners most often use hybrid varieties. The color of the inflorescences depends on the hybrid variety:
- this variety has deep red flowers. The bush is quite compact, therefore it is well suited for planting in groups on small ones;
- - a selection variety bred by crossing the Korean and profusely flowering weigela. The bushes are small, grow up to a meter. glossy, dark red;
- has pale pink flowers and a relatively miniature bush size;
- - the earliest flowering variety of hybrid species of weigela. Has a small red color;
- Crossing the flowering and Korean weigela made it possible to obtain a variety with dark pink flowers with a white frill;
- This variety is a hybrid of the same species, differing only in color: large flowers have a light, pink tint;
- "- with white flowers. The color persists even when the wilting period begins;
- - blooming with purple flowers has unusually bright green leaves;
- "Pierre Duchartre". The buds are black in color. When the flower opens, the hue changes to dark brown.
Important! June is the time for rejuvenating shrub pruning.
Blooming
Weigela blooming ("Florida") is found in North China and Primorye regions. It blooms profusely, the flowers form four inflorescences of a bright pink color. Has the following subspecies:
Weigela early - an inhabitant of the stony slopes of China and North Korea... Has a neat spherical crown. - bright pink with a yellow core. 
Weigela garden is originally from Japan. Differs in miniature: the height of the bush is no more than one meter. Blooms profusely. Pink-carmine bloom lasts about three weeks on the bush. 
A flowering shrub with a beautiful name seems exotic to our gardeners, but in fact, it deserves a place in a flower bed both by its right of origin and due to its beauty. If you are not yet enjoying lush bloom and fragrance, be sure to get acquainted with the weigela, because planting in open ground and caring for it is not as difficult as it seems.
Role of weigela in landscape design
Weigela is perennial shrub, akin to honeysuckle.
Landscape designers love Weigela for two things. Firstly, this shrub blooms twice a year, so it is easier to arrange a flower bed with it. continuous flowering... The second highlight is the change in the shade of the flowers. Freshly opened buds are light, while fully open buds are bright. Weigela simply amazes with the play of shades in each flower cluster.
Lush tall weigela bush looks great against the backdrop of the lawn
Weigela usually begins to bloom in mid-May and ends only in mid-June. Summer blooms are the most beautiful and lush, often behind the buds, greenery is not at all visible. At the end of August, the bush is again covered with inflorescences, but on a more modest scale. Flowers remain on the weigel until the very end of September.
Landscape designers use this shrub:
- in single plantings as a bright accent on the lawn;
Weigela stamp looks no worse than pink
- in group plantings to cover bare tree trunks, especially with an openwork crown;
The slightly disheveled weigela bush contrasts perfectly with the tall spruce cone.
- on alpine slides and rockeries (mostly undersized varieties);
Dwarf weigela will become a bright spot against the background of rough cobblestones
- as a hedge (tall) and mixborder (low and medium).
Even a low weigela hedge can transform a boring gray fence.
That is, in almost any role that other ornamental shrubs perform, weigela can also come in handy. By the way, thanks to the varietal variety of shrubs, beautiful compositions can be created from different subspecies of weigel.
The plant grows well next to traditional rockeries conifers, as well as other shrubs: cotoneaster, viburnum (better Buldenezh), Japanese quince.
Climatic requirements
In nature, weigela grows in Central Asia, there are found more than 15 varieties of this plant. Only three species are found on the territory of the Russian Federation, all of them grow in the southeast of the country.
If you come across Weigela early, Middendorf or pleasant on sale, know that these are wild-growing species. They will grow well in the Far East, but they are not adapted to a more severe climate.
Varietal weigels came to us from Europe, where they were popularized by a professor of botany by the name of von Weigel. Therefore, they are quite resistant to cold climates and feel great in middle lane RF in the open air.
Automating weigela watering is a great way to ensure moisture-loving plant correct humidity regime
Weigela prefers fertile soil with big amount humus, alkaline or neutral reaction and good aeration (loose or loosened). It is extremely important not to allow waterlogging, otherwise the plant accustomed to a drier climate will quickly die.
If your region has acidic soil or you cannot provide the weigel with the correct moisture regime, it is better to grow this shrub in a tub. If there is a sufficiently dry place on the site and you are ready, if necessary, to apply the necessary fertilizers and regulate the reaction of the soil, landing in the ground is quite acceptable.
Weigela usually grows in a tub only until the age of three.
Popular varieties
Weigela is incredibly diverse in color and flower shape, bush height and crown characteristics. Thanks to the efforts of specialists, every gardener can find a variety of this shrub that fully meets his needs and tastes. Among the most famous subspecies of weigela:
- Bristol Ruby is a tall subspecies of hybrid origin. Well suited for single plantings and hedges, grows up to 2.3 m in diameter and 3.5 m in height. It got its name from the ruby red flowers that bloom in June-July. Recovers quickly after pruning;
- Nana Variegata - dwarf variety with a slow growth, bred especially for rockeries. Leaves are white and variegated, and this is a marker of light-loving varieties. Flowers are collected in inflorescences of 3-4, have a pale pink or crimson color;
- Middendorf - natural view medium-sized shrub (1–1.5 m). Leaves are bright green with two-sided edging along the veins. The flowers are medium yellow, growing singly or 2–6 on one peduncle. It blooms twice, in our climate for 25-30 days. Weigela Middendorf is the only subspecies that easily tolerates the acidic reaction of the soil and grows on peaty soil;
- Candida is a tall variety with white flowers. Popular with foreign gardeners.
- Eva Rathke is a Polish hybrid of the Korean weigela and the abundant flowering weigela. The bush has a height of 0.7-1 m, the crown is compact. Tubular flowers of a carmine shade with shine appear in July-August. The growth rate is moderate. Needs shelter for the winter.
The most beautiful varieties of weigela in the photo
If possible, try to free the area from weed roots in advance.
Any stones, fragments of bricks or ceramics of a suitable size can be used as drainage
If your weigela is grown in a container, you do not need to free the roots from the ground, plant it along with a clod
If there is enough water, the puddle will be absorbed into the ground for a long time.
For this method, three-year-old nursery seedlings are best suited; younger plants are not yet ready to grow outdoors without additional supervision.
If experience suggests that the survival rate of plants in your garden is low, you can treat the weigela with a growth stimulator (Radifarm, Viva +).
Weigela care in the garden
If you know the basic needs of a weigela, caring for her becomes not too difficult.
Firstly, the plant needs constant aeration, so the soil in the trunk circle must be loosened regularly. After watering or weeding, it is imperative to cultivate the land to a depth of 5–8 cm. Since not every garden owner can devote so much time to an individual bush, you can find an easier way out - to mulch trunk circle peat or sawdust. If the mulch layer is 10 cm, the need for frequent loosening will completely disappear.
Wood sawdust, pine needles, bark chips are excellent mulching materials
The root system of the weigela is fibrous (without a well-defined central root extending deep into it), but diverges to the sides not too close to the surface. Therefore, when loosening, you can be sure that when the spade bayonet is fully buried, you will not damage the roots.
The second need is water treatments... It is especially important to water the weigela during dry periods and in spring after a winter with little snow. You should not feel sorry for moisture - each bush needs a bucket of water for 8-10 liters.
When pruning, be sure to keep in mind that the plant reacts differently to each type of pruning.
The third stage of caring procedures is pruning. It is held annually in the spring to remove twigs that have frozen over the winter. You only need to form a bush once every 2-3 years.
Video: pruning a young plant
How to care during growth and flowering
To help the weigela get ready for the lush spring bloom, it needs to be fed. Mineral fertilizers are brought in even in the snow, so that when the plant wakes up, it can immediately take advantage of useful elements. Urea (20 g per m 2), superphosphate and potassium salt (10 g per m 2) are used as top dressing.
The time for the second treat comes when the flower buds form. Then weigela needs double superphosphate and potassium sulfate(30 g per 1 bush or 1 m 2 area). The third feeding is carried out before autumn digging and consists of ash (200 g per 1 m 2) or a specialized composition (for example, "Kemira-autumn").
Weigela responds well to universal fertilizers
After feeding the plant, it is imperative to water it very abundantly.
Once I lost several ornamental bushes due to too plentiful feeding... I so wanted to have more flowers that I carried out additional processing with mineral fertilizers with increased concentration. I myself do not understand how I, with the additional education of a laboratory assistant in chemical analysis, could have been so negligent about chemicals... But the shameful result in the form of three seedy skeletons of the once strong bushes worked more effectively than any lectures, exams and an additional tub. cold water... After that, I try to never forget that any feeding is serious. chemical experiment, no matter how ordinary it looks. I even got myself a notebook with observations and always write down what and when I did in my kindergarten, so as not to allow such annoying situations anymore, not out of an excess of enthusiasm, but simply out of forgetfulness.
Post-flowering care
Immediately after the end of flowering comes the best time for formative pruning of weigela. In this case, old shoots are removed, and young ones are shortened by half. The second procedure is postponed for 2 or even 3 years. Further work is carried out according to the calendar, taking into account the weather, the climate of your region and the state of the plants.
One of the most difficult tasks in caring for a weigela is to properly prepare a heat-loving plant for winter. As the saying goes, here it is better to overdo it than to miss it. Gardeners use two methods of covering: with pressed branches and collected.
If necessary, protect the bush from the weight of the snow, you can make a frame of crossed sticks under the covering material.
Low-growing and young shrubs for the winter "spread" on the ground, carefully bending the branches and fixing them so as not to straighten out. Such a mound can be framed with mulch and covered with a waterproof material of your choice (from spandbod to film), and then fix the shelter. It is convenient to do this from above with spruce branches, and around the bush - with stones.
This winter shelter is enough for the middle lane.
Tall bushes with woody branches with this approach are easy to break, so they are covered in an upright position. It is necessary to tie the bush into a loose bundle, cover with the selected material and protect with a wire frame.
Video: secrets of handling weigela
As a lazy gardener, I really love the tradition of decorating flower beds with stones. At first, when covering a bush, it was necessary to look for suitable pebbles throughout the site and even quietly from my husband to adapt building materials for this business. Then I just found the right amount beautiful rounded stones from neighbors and friends, and now I always keep them near the bushes. In the summer they are decorative, and in the winter they become functional.
What problems do gardeners have
One of the possible difficulties when planting a weigela is the wrong timing. While most other shrubs and trees are preferred to be planted in the fall, it is best to replant in the spring. The bushes of autumn planting take root much worse and often die. To "preserve" the seedlings until spring (if you accidentally or unknowingly purchased them in the fall), dig in them in an inclined position and sprinkle them with earth most crowns. In this state, the weigela successfully overwinters and you can plant it in the spring.
The rest of the problems, too, in most cases, are associated with the untimely execution of garden robots, or an insufficient number of them.
Video: weigela in her own garden
Table: seasonal care jobs
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I’ll say banality, but the plants in your own garden are almost children. While I was lazy to deal with them more often 2-3 times a year, at the very least, they managed themselves and looked almost decent. But as a mother is disappointed with her own kids, watching the success of their peers, so I began to be ashamed of my flower bed, visiting my friends. The flowerbed was formed precisely from the calculation of saving time, since I love flowers, and I hate sowing annuals every year. But you also have to tinker with the bushes to make them really beautiful. With my gardening enthusiasm attacking me in short bursts and usually out of season, it was really difficult to synchronize the needs of the plants and my own mood. Over time, I managed to discipline myself and include the minimum necessary care for the flower bed in my daily plans. The result turned out both with and without a manicure - it seems a trifle, but the image changes dramatically. True, new plants now appear extremely rarely - I treat everyone as an adopted baby.
Reproduction methods
Gardeners practice reproduction of weigela by seeds and vegetative methods: cuttings (rooting of cut shoots), layering (rooting of shoots due to bending and covering with earth without tearing from the bush), young shoots of the stump ("kids" that regularly appear at the root neck). Cultivation of cuttings from shoots and shoots is carried out identically, and the method of cutting is simpler, since at the stage of rooting young growth does not require additional care.
Weigelu is most often propagated by arcuate layering.
How to grow weigela seedlings
Unlike many others ornamental shrubs Weigela reproduces well by seeds. The collected seeds remain viable for a whole year, but they should not be stored longer. Preliminary preparation of seeds is not required, they are quite tenacious and without additional help. For sowing, you can use seedling trays or flower pots covered with foil, in general, any semblance of a mini-greenhouse.
As a rule, all plants sprout at the same time, which greatly simplifies the care of young shoots. The pick is carried out after the appearance of the second pair of leaves, then you can do weeding. If the seedlings have enough room for growth (7–8 cm between neighbors), in the future they only require watering.
If you could not find tools for picking, you can use the tools at hand
At the end of the first year after the emergence of seedlings, the seedlings grow up to 6-7 cm in height, and the root system occupies an area with a diameter of 3-5 cm. At this stage of life, the stem does not branch yet, but it has 3 or more pairs of leaves, as well as axillary and apical kidneys. These seedlings are ready for outdoor growing. It is best to take the boxes out into the garden and place them under the trees that create partial shade.
Such a bush is suitable for planting in the ground or tub.
By the second year of life, the seedling has a height of 40-50 cm and has a well-grown superficial root system. Such a plant can already find a permanent residence in your garden. But the first flowers will have to wait another 2 years.
The seed propagation method is not suitable for hybrid and garden forms of weigela, which have the necessary decorative properties were given by vaccination. It is best to sow natural forms of weigela: pleasant, early, Middendorf.
We grow weigela from cuttings
Vegetative propagation - The best way preserve the varietal characteristics of your green pet. The optimal time for this procedure is mid-June, when the spring flower buds have already completed their function, and the new ones have not yet appeared. You should cut off young, not yet woody shoots. The bottom cut should be straight; the traditional oblique cut will cut the knot to which the leaves are attached. The top cut should be positioned above the sheet cushion, the bottom cut just below it.
In the distant school years, you were certainly told that plants have three ways of arranging leaves on a stem: alternate (ladder), opposite (paired leaves grow opposite each other) and whorled (leaves cover the stem in a ring). Novice gardeners should definitely remember this, since cuttings in plants with an alternate position are cut from the bottom along the oblique, with whorled and opposite ones - only in a straight line.
You can use a regular blade to cut the cuttings.
On the issue of cutting off the two pairs of leaves remaining on the stem, experts are not in agreement: you can remove them completely, cut them in half, or leave 2/3 of the leaf blade.
- Put fresh cuttings in water at room temperature for 1–2 hours.
The water level in the jar should not be high - it is enough to moisten the lower 2-3 cm
- Treat the prepared stems with a growth stimulant and leave overnight in a dark, warm room. The optimum holding time is 12 hours, the temperature is 20 o -25 o C. A solution of 150 mg of heteroauxin in 1 liter of water is usually used as a stimulant. Keep in mind that without stimulating growth, the likelihood of rooting the cuttings is reduced by an order of magnitude.
When buying a bag, be sure to calculate how much product is needed to process all your cuttings.
- Prepare a mixture of sand with peat and plant the cuttings in open ground, having poured them to a depth of 1 cm. Top the soil mixture should be covered with washed river sand and then cover tightly plastic wrap(as an option - a cut-off plastic bottle). Water the seedling twice a day until it is fully rooted.
A cut bottle is the easiest and cheapest mini greenhouse
Experts say that if you stick to this method, good rooting is guaranteed.
Weigela reproduces equally well in winter and summer cuttings... But summer seedlings bloom for the first time as early as 2 years of age, which is a huge advantage for the impatient gardener. Unfortunately, the first buds will have to be removed before opening in order for the bush to form a more lush and dense crown.
If you missed summer cuttings, you can try growing winter cuttings... They are pruned in April, separating the stem under the bud with unblown leaves. Further, the technology is similar, but rooting is carried out in pots with a soil mixture of sand and turf. After the formation of roots, the plants are pinched and fed with cow dung (0.5 l of slurry per 1 m 2) or mineral fertilizers (30 g of superphosphate + 25 g of ammonium nitrate).
Rooting of cuttings is not guaranteed, so prepare them with a margin
Keep in mind that despite additional efforts, winter cuttings not only grow worse, but also take root less readily. Therefore, if you need a guaranteed result, it is better to wait until summer.
The nuances of cultivation in different regions
Due to the high adaptability of the weigela, it grows well almost throughout the country. But there are several nuances that should be taken into account by a gardener from regions with a harsh climate.
Growing in the suburbs and the Leningrad region
In this region, hybrid varieties of this shrub feel best: Candida, Eva Rathke, Rosea, Lucifer. Of those that grow wild in a temperate continental climate, Veigela early is appropriate, which is often found in the south of the Ussuri region and blooming (varieties Purpurea and Alba). But the latter tolerates the cold worse and needs careful shelter. If you are not embarrassed by the need to protect plants from frost, Weigela garden and Weigela Middendorf will also grow well in a garden near Moscow. Here they will not only grow well, but will also be able to successfully propagate by cuttings and seeds according to the standard scheme.
A cottage near Moscow, decorated with weigels, resembles a cozy house in Provence
Weigela planting in the Moscow region is carried out according to the technology already described above. The only difference is that a spring planting is recommended. The first flowering will have to wait 4 years.
In cold climates, weigela of autumn planting often dies already in the first winter, despite careful wrapping.
If you want to get a richly flowering compact shrub, two additional dressings per year are enough. During the swelling of leaf buds (but before the first leaves bloom), nitroammofosk is added, 40 g per bucket of water under each bush. At the end of spring, before the blooming of flower buds, potassium sulfate and superphosphate are added in the amount of 30 g per 10 liters of water for each bush.
Before the first frosts, the bushes should be covered with agrofibre, dry leaves or spruce branches (just like roses). If the winter is predicted to be harsh, it is better to play it safe and use roofing material or spandbod for shelter.
Video: the best variety of weigela for the middle lane
Growing in Siberia and the Urals
The only obstacle to the normal growth of weigela in this region is the severe winter frosts. Therefore, only the most resistant varieties of weigela need to be planted here: Alba, Striatum, Victoria, Styriaka, Red Prince, Eva Rathke. Gardeners claim that they are able to survive the winter with a short-term drop in temperature to -43 o C. Of course, even these varieties will not hibernate without shelter, but they can be grown outdoors without wasting time winter care behind the tubs.
Despite the apparent fragility and tenderness, this weigela Styriaka is able to withstand an extremely harsh winter.
Even if the flowering is not too abundant, weigela looks very decorative
What gardeners say: reviews from practitioners
Pluses: beautiful! magnificently! bewitching!
Disadvantages: moody bush
This bush has been growing in our garden for ten years now. The first years he bloomed very poorly, literally a few flowers. We ran with him throughout the garden, looking for a suitable place. Until, six years later, they built it in the most comfortable and sunny corner. Since then, it has grown decently, and annually pleases us with its pink buds that look like bells. In general, weigela is a rather capricious shrub. It requires choosing a place protected from the winds, fertile, well-drained soil. Does not tolerate waterlogging. But even in the hot season it requires regular watering. […] In frosty winter, weigela shoots can freeze over, in spring they need to be cut off. Also, after the end of flowering, once every few years, we carry out anti-aging pruning, removing old branches. Periodically we fertilize the bush with a solution organic fertilizer... But without fanaticism. It took a full six years to understand the needs of our weigela bush. But now he is a real decoration of the garden!
Zerkanahttp://otzovik.com/review_3081547.html
Pluses: Not picky, does not require much maintenance.
Disadvantages: Needs to be shaped
Once in a market where flowers are sold, a grandmother was selling a bush cut, and this cut had only one flower. It was red in color, shaped like a large bell. I liked it very much and I bought it for a purely symbolic price. It was Weigela. I planted it in early spring, in a soil well fertilized with peat and sand. The stalk took root well and quickly. It was growing well, I wouldn't raise it by the hour, I still fertilized it, I really wanted it to bloom next year. But to my planting, the next year it did not bloom, but it gave beautiful, lush greenery, good green leaves were densely overgrown with bush twigs. I was very upset, went to a specialty store to consult about this bush. And they explained everything to me, it turns out that "weigela" does not require a lot of fertilization, because everything will go into greenery, the less minerals and everything useful for the plant in the earth, the better it will bloom with flowers. The next year I did just that, the whole previous year I did not pour anything under this bush except water. And this year at the beginning of June, she blooms with me to the fullest.
Silenahttp://otzovik.com/review_2173371.html
The plant is not tall, the height of an adult bush reaches a little more than two meters, but this is on condition that it does not freeze in winter period... There are both disadvantages and advantages in this shrub, and each grower considers them at his own discretion. In my review, I will describe my experience and my observations. [...] The only downside is that weigela is afraid not only subzero temperatures, but also a large difference from plus to minus. But this plant has many advantages, and the first is that after cutting off the dried branches that fell under low temperatures, the bush is instantly restored. With only one difference, such a plant blooms only once during the growing season. […] Flowers of dark-colored varieties fade slightly in the sun. Looks beautiful in compositions with conifers and perennial flowers such as badan, hosta, tradescantia, rudbeckia.
angel47http://otzyvy-otritsatelnye.ru/otzyvy/tovary-i-uslugi/tovary/43386-veygela.html
[Weigela plant] has recently settled in our garden, but has already become a clear favorite. We planted it ourselves, did not buy it, but used cuttings that were kindly given by a familiar gardener. They planted it under a jar, not all took root at once. It grows depending on what place and land, you still need the sun. The cuttings were kept under the jar all the time, sometimes they were ventilated. The next year, the bushes literally burst into growth. Then the same woman gave a small bush. Of course, it grew even faster, and most importantly, it bloomed all summer. Even in autumn, one branch was in bloom. I just fell in love with weigela. Standard care if you want can water with fertilizers will be grateful. Do not want to water - your right, I don’t know what will happen. For such a beauty, I do not regret anything)) You can water the infusion of nettle - the same organic matter. I also want to write that we have a lot of bushes, one was planted as a continuation of the hedge and it looks very good, but in this case, some kind of backing is needed. In the center of the dacha, it grows without support. I still can't wait for the red weigela to grow, we planted a stalk last summer. On the picture pink weigela the shrub is two years old, bloomed for a very long time, beautiful flowers smell nice. If you see such shrubs, buy them, you will not regret!
raudonahttps://otzovik.com/review_4363688.html
[...] For weigela, you should choose sunny place although it can grow in partial shade. The soil must be loose and permeable. Minimal care is needed - watering, feeding and pruning after flowering. Propagated by young, slightly lignified cuttings - they are cut from a bush and planted in sand or loose soil under a film and watered. Rooted plants may already bloom next year. Cuttings root easily, only you need to cut them about 10 cm and remove most of the leaves. Weigela can be used in compositions with lilacs, forsythia, mock orange and other shrubs. Attention should be paid to pruning. Every year in the spring, you need to remove frozen and dry shoots, and it is better to start shaping a bush after the weigela has faded (cut young shoots in half for good tillering).
Solnyshko4http://otzovik.com/review_3008756.html
I [weigela] is growing for the third year (Kazan) and blooms twice a year, a very beautiful bush. For the winter, I just tilt the branches, I try to throw more snow at her.
Lilyhttps://www.botanichka.ru/article/weigela/
As you can see, weigela is not as capricious as they say she is. Most gardeners are happy with their shrubs, even if they don't follow their care plan 100%. Therefore, be sure to try planting it at home, because you can get no less pleasure from leaving than from contemplating its bright buds.
Ornamental flowering shrubs are very popular in the arrangement of a garden or suburban area. A striking example- deciduous weigela. Her profuse flowering, a variety of shades and unpretentiousness made the plant very popular. It was imported from Asia and Of the Far East... An unusual feature of the garden planting is the manifestation of the shade of the inflorescence in a short period after disclosure. In the first stage of flowering, the plant has practically no color: the leaves are almost transparent. But as soon as they open, the flowers gradually begin to acquire a rich shade. The culture blooms in spring and autumn.
The shrub height ranges from 50 to 140 cm in height. Stems are erect, sparsely covered with small dark green leaves. The edges of the leaves, depending on the species, can be silvery, white or serrate-toothed. The shape of the corolla of the flower is outwardly similar to a bell. The color can be pink, yellow, cream, white or red. Corolla diameter from 3-5 cm.
Use in landscape design
Weigela, like many other flowering shrubs, defines the architecture of the garden landscape. It creates the necessary volume, divides the area into certain zones, decorates the garden look with its flowering. A delicate aroma creates a romantic and warm atmosphere. Weigela is a kind of connecting link between tall trees and low-growing annuals, and perennials. Gardeners use weigela as independent element landscape design, and as a background frame for other garden plantings.
One of the popular roles of a flowering shrub is a hedge. This is an excellent protection not only against drafts, but also against uninvited guests... By delineating boundaries with hedges, you can create incredible beautiful territory without boring fences. By regularly cutting the weigela hedge, you can form a low curb. It will revive and dilute the monotony of the lawn bright colors... Low curbs decorate the entrance area to a house or garden.
Weigela is a frequent visitor to mixborders. In combination with conifers and other perennials, it looks beautiful in the background of a group composition. The bush gives a new sound to an already established group. Blooming weigela is a bright touch to decorating a suburban area. A mixborder against the background of a weigela hedge looks more picturesque and cheerful. Weigela adds solemnity and aristocracy to the site.
Weigela is well suited for haircuts and modeling. By creating original forms and extraordinary images, the shrub attracts increased attention, emphasizing the sophistication of design and the sense of style of the owners of the house. During the flowering period, weigela is irresistible. Its unusual ability to acquire color during flowering is surprising and impressive. In this way, the garden can be completely transformed overnight. That is why weigels are planted in whole alleys.
Due to the unpretentiousness of the plant, the shrub is often planted in places where many garden plantings do not take root. They perfectly decorate the space under the vault of tall trees. Acting as a mediator, smoothing the space between tall and low plants, filling the empty space between them.
Incredibly beautiful weigela will become a bright tapeworm. It is planted against the backdrop of a green lawn. The shrub can grow in free form or gardeners give it a standard form.
Sunny edge is a picturesque playground for weigela. Needles and other green perennials make a harmonious company to her. This highly sought-after shrub always plays a central role in any area. Against the background of monotonous calm needles, weigela becomes a bright contrast. A stroke capable of introducing a flow into a measured ensemble.
It is not complete without weigela and alpine slide... The undersized varieties fit perfectly into the imitation of a mountain top. Dwarf forms are planted at the foot. The bright shades of deciduous shrub go well with the stone and the basic concept of the rock garden.
Combination with other plants
Weigela is not a whimsical plant, it perfectly "neighbors" many cultures, complementing and emphasizing their decorative effect. The most popular combinations with weigela:
- juniper;
- derain;
- berry yew;
- rhododendrons.
When choosing plants for group planting with weigela, it is worth considering their growth and cutting them on time. The condition of the mixborder plays an important role in its decorative effect. Planting several types flowering shrubs, "Neighbors" are selected according to the duration and frequency of flowering. By choosing several crops that bloom one after another, you can create live composition... Different periods of flowering will change not only the shade of the mixborder, but also its height and volume. Correct organization composition will create an enclosed space in an open space. This is the so-called "green room effect".
Species diversity
It is known about 15 plant species growing in natural conditions. 5 are considered cultivated and suitable for landscaping:
The growth of the shrub is on average 2 meters, the crown has a spherical shape. The inflorescence consists of 2-3 flowers, drooping shape. Shades of open corollas vary from deep pink to bright red. The bud is always the same color - purple. Flowering lasts 30 days (from May to June). It is planted in a mixborder and as a tapeworm, against the backdrop of a lawn. Also used as a hedge gardening plant.
Pleasant
Rare view. Natural habitat - Kuril Islands, Sakhalin, Primorye. Height reaches 120 cm. Leaves are green, oblong. The shade of the leaves is pink-purple, the flower has the shape of a funnel, the diameter of the corolla is 3 cm. Flowering lasts 3 weeks (late spring - early summer). Re-flowering sometimes occurs (late summer - early autumn).
A very bright and unusual bush. The greens of the leaves have a bright and juicy shade. It is used for hedges. It blooms very quickly. It reaches a height of 2-2.5 meters. The inflorescences are in the shape of a bell of a bright red hue. Re-pruning the crop can provoke flowering a second time.
Originally from the country rising sun... Flowers are bright red. Color twice, almost continuously. Between the first and the second period there is an interval of 2-3 days. The shrub is low - 90-100 cm, 160-180 cm wide. The buds are decorated not only with young, but also with old shoots. Gardeners use this variety for planting in flowerpots, pots and pots.
The culture is created to grow in the garden. The bush reaches 1-1.5 meters. The leaves are bright green, with a drooping shape. Flowers are gray-yellow with orange splashes. It blooms twice: in spring (May) and late summer (in August). Duration 20 days. In landscaping, it is used as a lawn decoration, planted under tall trees with an openwork crown.
Nursing, reproduction and planting
Reproduction occurs by seeds and vegetatively. Seeds that wake up on their own give many shoots in the spring. The strongest and most viable are grown for two years, and then transplanted to a permanent place. The vegetative method is more in demand among gardeners. Less popular is propagation by layering. The lowest shoot is adhered to the soil and covered with earth. In the spring, a mature seedling awaits you.
The best time for planting is spring. For planting, a place is selected on a hill, protected from drafts, an active sun. The shrub takes root better and develops in loose and humus-rich soil. For planting, seedlings that have not reached the age of three are suitable. The depth of the hole should be 35-45 cm if the soil is rich. In poor soil, it is also necessary to add a layer of fertilizer and drainage, so the hole should be deeper. The roots must be straightened before planting, the earth must be tamped. Then they organize abundant watering and mulching.
The plant is unpretentious, does not require special care. Watering is necessary only during dry periods, it should be moderate and regular. Fertilizers are applied once a year, and if nitrophoska and compost were introduced during planting, then fertilization is needed only after 2 years. Pruning must be carried out once for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes and as many times as the decorative role of the shrub requires.
Video review - Weigela blooming