The weigela shrub has unusually decorative properties: undemanding in care, with beautiful, exotic flowers, it will be a wonderful decoration for any garden plot. The plant was named after the famous German botanist and chemist Christian von Weigel. Historical homeland flower - Asia, but since the 19th century, it has become one of the most popular deciduous perennials in European gardens. Today, in many countries of the world, you can find an Asian beauty belonging to the Honeysuckle family, represented by 15 species and many varieties. Three of its varieties are found on the Far Eastern hills of Russia.
Watering and irrigation of weigela
Weigela loves good watering, but does not tolerate excessively moist, waterlogged soil. Water the shrub sparingly when a thin dry crust has formed on the soil surface. If you ignore the rule, you can damage the roots. They will rot, resulting in the loss of the plant.
So that moisture does not evaporate too quickly from the surface of the earth, after watering and loosening, the root part can be mulched. Sawdust or peat is taken as mulch. Some gardeners advise sprinkling the root part with the smallest pebbles. You need to do this in may days, since at this time the soil is already warming up well. If sawdust is taken as a "powder", then they are covered quite thickly, with a layer of about 10 cm.
By the fall, the shoots begin to grow woody. To make this process faster, you need to reduce the frequency of watering. The lignified parts of the plant will more easily endure the winter cold.
Loosening the soil of the plant
After moistening the soil, immediately loosen the soil around the plant. This will make it possible to get rid of the bark formed after watering. Over time, it forms a kind of shell, which prevents air from penetrating to the roots, and also disrupts moisture exchange. It is necessary to plow the soil at a surface level, the depth of which does not exceed 5-7 cm. Deeper loosening will lead to damage to the roots. Carrying out such soil cultivation, you need to cover a fairly large part of the land around the bush - at least 2 meters in diameter.
Top dressing of weigela bushes
Three times during the season, top dressing is applied under the weigela bushes.
For the first time, it is fed on melted snow, which, having melted, will "deliver" the fertilizer directly to its destination - to the roots. When the snow shelters begin to leave the ground en masse, the strength of the plant is reinforced with the help of mineral dressings. During this period, it is important to support the plant after the cold weather. Used in this case is carbamide, superphosphate, potassium humate.
The time for the second feeding is right when buds are formed for flowering. During this period, the bushes most of all need potash and phosphorus fertilizers.
Weigela is fertilized for the third time in mid-July so that it gains strength before the second flowering. Potassium sulfate and superphosphate are suitable for this.
Sometimes the fourth "feeding" is carried out in the fall (at the end of September). During this period, the plant prepares for winter, its shoots are covered with a thin woody crust. Fertilizing the shrub in the autumn season, the gardener will help the plant to “dress” in the bark for the winter, which will protect it from snow and cold weather. In addition, during this period, there is a massive budding for the next year. Providing weigela in the fall with good watering and fertilizing, in the spring you can get beautiful, generously flowering bushes.
Varietal variety of weigela shrubs
Many varieties make it possible to choose suitable plant for any, even the most demanding taste. Bushes can be dwarf, reaching a height of 50 cm, and tall, growing up to 2-3 m.
The main decoration of the shrub is flowers, which can be in the form of a pipe, funnel, bloom one at a time or gather in crumbly inflorescences. Color variety also can not but rejoice. Branches are completely or partially covered with beige, yellow, pink, red, lilac flowers. An interesting feature of the flowers is that as the buds unfold, they change from light and delicate shades to darker, more saturated ones. When flowering stops, seed pods appear in place of the flowers.
Many varieties have long taken a confident position in gardens, and some are only gaining their fans. The most popular varieties, with high decorative characteristics will be discussed in the article.
Rumba variety
Weigela Rumba bushes are medium in size. Their height and width are approximately the same and are 1-1.2 m. They are covered with elongated, oval leaves of a delicate green color, with a cherry-golden tint. It belongs to the red weigela variety, which is numbered in dozens of varieties. The inflorescences on the bushes are lush and catchy. The flowers are ruby red on the outside, while the inside is purple-pink.
Like most varieties, Rumba blooms twice a season. For the first time, it is covered with flowers in late spring - early summer (May-June). The second less lush bloom occurs in late summer - early autumn (August - September).
The plant is unpretentious in care, but it must be remembered that weigela is "Asian" in origin and may not survive a too harsh winter. Therefore, one of the most important components of plant care is to cover the root system for the winter. By its nature, the shrub is light-requiring, but it grows calmly in areas with partial shading. Regarding the soil, the requirements are also extremely simple - the soil must be nutritious and well-drained and moistened.
The optimal planting of weigela red Rumba is summer using cuttings. In the fall, propagation by cuttings is also possible, but only under favorable weather conditions.
Red Prince variety
In 2002 she was honored with the Red Prince Weigela Award in the UK. Seeing a flowering bush, many will agree that the variety was noted by the English horticultural society for a reason. On its branches is placed great amount bell-tubes, the length of which ranges from 3 to 6 cm. They form beautiful inflorescences, each of which contains about 4 flowers. The color of the shrub also deserves praise - the red-pomegranate flowers look favorably against the background of bright, green foliage. Weigela Red Prince requires classic self-care: planting and caring for the "Red Prince" is carried out according to all the rules specified above.
Bristol Ruby variety
Weigela red Bristol Ruby can boast of no less attractive appearance: planting and caring for it will not cause any special problems. It was bred by American breeders at the very beginning of the forties of the last century. It belongs to the tall varieties, since its usual height is about three meters. The flowers are large, funnel-shaped, up to 5 cm long.The color of the flowers justifies its name: fully blossoming, the flowers take on a shade precious stone- ruby. But at first, the buds are lighter, with a pinkish tint.
Simple care for the weigela Bristol Ruby consists in timely watering, forming a bush, regularly plowing the soil around it and sheltering the root system for the winter (especially for small, young bushes).
Weigela Ruby Star has similar characteristics - bright, large flowers in shape resemble elongated bells. The foliage is bright, luscious green, well set off by no less spectacular flowers.
The principles of caring for the plant largely coincide with the methods of keeping the Bristol Ruby variety.
Nana Purpurea variety
Weigela Nana Purpurea is also fascinated by her beauty - long-living deciduous shrub, whose age can reach 30 years. His distinctive feature- specific, purple-chocolate color of foliage. When exposed to enough sunlight, they turn almost completely brown.
Flowers are the main value
Flowers, similar to elongated crimson-pink bells, give a greater decorative effect to the variety. Their length is about 4 cm, the outer color is darker than the inner one. They do not bloom singly, but in small, loose inflorescences. The branches are so densely covered with purple tubular flowers that foliage can hardly be seen through them. It is for this property that the blooming Nana Purpurea was so fond of weigela by flower growers and gardeners in Europe and other countries.
The size of the bush variety
The bush is compact, in width and height not exceeding 1-1.2 m. Belongs to plants with slow growth: only 10-13 cm in breadth and upward, weigela Nana grows during one season. Loves sunny areas, but tolerates slight shading well. Although this reduces the decorative effect of the bush: the number of inflorescences decreases, and the color of foliage and petals becomes less expressive.
Preparing a plant for the winter
Requires compulsory shelter for the winter, especially at a young age. For this, agrofibre or spruce "paws" are used. Sometimes the shoots of the "young" are bent to the surface, the branches are fixed and then covered. Some people make frames around the circumference for immature bushes, they put "insulation" on them and fix it. Adult plants do not need such winter preparations. The only exception is that roots sometimes hide as a safety net against winters with little snow.
Alexandra variety (Wine and roses)
Weigela Alexander can also be called a "double decorator". Not only pink and crimson bells adorn the shrub. Its burgundy leaves also serve as a part of the external splendor. Perhaps that is why the plant received another name - Wine and Roses. This variety has become a well-deserved medalist in many flower-growing competitions held in Holland and the USA. And this is not surprising, because her flowers are striking in their beauty. Bright on the outside, inside they are painted in lighter shades. The length of a tubular flower with petals bent outward is about 4 cm. The bush becomes brighter and more luxuriant due to the fact that the flowers form voluminous "lantern sleeves" on the branches, as they grow not one by one, but in inflorescences. The dimensions of the bush are 1-1.5 m in length and width.
Variety Minor Black
If the gardener does not have enough space in the garden, but wants to plant such beautiful bush, Weigela Minor Black will help him - it does not grow higher than 0.8-1 m and is considered a dwarf variety. In addition to its compact dimensions, it will delight flora lovers with an incredibly attractive appearance. Its glossy leaves of bright, chocolate shades perfectly emphasize the attractiveness of bright pink bells. They form an inflorescence of 3-6 pieces and look just great. Despite the fact that it has a significant difference in size from other varieties, miniature weigela is blooming: planting and caring for the plant is no different from its "tall relatives".
Eva Ratke variety
Weigela Eva Ratke is also characterized by a small volume of the bush, combining the varietal characteristics of two types - Korean and profusely flowering. The height of the bush rarely exceeds 1 m, but the width can reach 3 meters. Its large red flowers with a scarlet shade will not leave anyone indifferent, especially since they form airy inflorescences, gathering several pieces in one "bunch". Unlike other varieties, it can tolerate excessive watering and waterlogged soil. Still, it is better not to abuse such "endurance". The care is standard.
Nana Variegata variety
Another variety that combines unusually beautiful foliage and graceful, delicate flowers- Weigela Nana Variegata is a lush shrub with branchy branches. The bush is of medium size, it grows up to 1.2-1.5 m in height, and up to 1.7 m in width. The plant is called variegated weigela, since bright, green leaves are bordered with a creamy yellow stripe and create a patterned ornament. Another name - pink weigela characterizes the color of flowers. They are medium-sized tubular bells (3-4 cm), the shade of which ranges from pale pink to crimson pink.
Not even quite experienced florists Weigela Variegata is suitable: planting and caring for her is the simplest, not requiring much effort. Grows well in sunlit areas not exposed to strong drafts. It can put up with the shadow, but it blooms worse. Once every two to three years, it needs pruning overgrown or old shoots. The formation of the bush is carried out after it has completely bloomed. She should provide a little shelter for the winter. It is not worth building complex protective structures, since this variety is quite cold-resistant.
Middendorf variety
In the vastness of Sakhalin, weigela Middendorf is found - the most suitable shrub for growing in cool climatic conditions... Among many varieties, it is considered one of the most cold-resistant. It differs not only in resistance to frost, but also in an unusual color for this plant. Tubular bells are painted in a yellow-cream tone, there is a small spot in the center orange... They are large, their diameter reaches 3.5 cm, and their length is 4 cm. The foliage is green, with a small burgundy vein in the center. The surface is slightly pubescent, and in shape they tend to an ellipse. The height of the shrub does not exceed 1.5 m. It blooms, like most varieties, twice a year. The decorative properties are high. Check out the article:.
Weigela is thermophilic garden plant, which, thanks to its colorful bloom, is able to transform any garden. Planting shrubs in open ground is done in spring or autumn. A three-year-old weigela seedling is suitable for this. Caring for it is not difficult, the main thing is to properly cut and feed it after 3 years after planting and be sure to cover it for the winter.
Types and varieties of weigela
The main types are:
- Blooming- this is the tallest view, reaching 3 meters or more:
- flowering is observed from early May to late June (in some regions to July);
- does not like the scorching sun;
- takes root faster in the shade;
- prefers good lighting;
- blooms in different ways, from pale to bright pink;
- poorly tolerates excessive soil moisture.
Advice: in order for the plant to bloom better, density in planting should be avoided.
- Variegata- average height from 80 to 90 cm:
- takes root well in the middle lane;
- able to survive the winter, but only without severe frosts;
- when flowering, it acquires a rich pink color;
- flowering period from May to June.
Note: this kind looks better alone.
- Hybrid- height varies within 1 meter:
- burgundy inflorescences;
- large and deep green leaves (in comparison with other species);
- do not like excessive moisture;
- grow better where there is an alternation of shade and direct sunlight;
- Variegated- height up to 40 cm:
- leaves of several colors;
- flowering is different - from white to pink;
- does not like severe frosts and excessive soil moisture.
Korean Maximovich
Hybrid Aurea Hybrid Eva Rathke
Japanese Garden
Middendorf Blooming Coin
Blooming Nana Variegata Hybrid Bristol Ruby
Japanese Raspberry Bells Minor Black
Hybrid Red Prince Alexandra
By varieties, the plant is subdivided into:
- frost-resistant;
- dwarf;
- heat-loving;
- tall and others.
Most varieties have one more flowering, in addition to the end of spring, it occurs in the period from August to September, but unlike the first, it is less abundant.
Choosing a seat for landing
A place for planting a plant such as weigela must meet the basic requirements:
- be located on a hill;
- not be exclusively in the shade, good illumination should always be (except at night);
- do not grow in the wind. With strong winds, especially from the north, weigela flowers may fall off or not bloom at all.
- it is better to choose the south side of the garden plot;
- avoid rocky areas;
- the best option if the sun's rays fall in the morning or afternoon.
Note: such plants begin to bloom much faster and take root better.
- it is better that there are no bushes nearby, which in the future will interfere with full-fledged growth and flowering;
- so that it is possible to easily close the bush in strong wind, snow, rain and other unfavorable climatic conditions.
Special requirements are imposed on the soil itself, it must be:
- as loose as possible;
- rich in nutrients;
- with good moisture permeability;
- where the standing of flood water is excluded;
- with a neutral reaction.
Soil preparation
After determining the site for planting, the soil must be properly prepared. Main steps:
- loosen thoroughly;
- fertilize;
Note: For this, it is better to use special fertilizers that can be purchased at flower shops.
- add turf and sand, especially if the site is clay enough;
Advice: turf should be added for any soil condition.
- add crushed chalk, but only if the soil is acidic.
When to plant?
Weigela can be planted in spring and autumn. Three-year-old seedlings are used for planting.
Features of spring planting:
- the ideal time is after April 10, but for some areas the deadline may be shifted until mid-May;
- takes root faster;
- brighter flowering;
- in the future, the plant is stronger and healthier.
Features of autumn planting:
- you need to dig in the seedlings at a slight slope;
- the risk that seedlings will die in the first winter is very high;
- autumn planting is more applicable to the southern regions;
- required best care and observation;
- flowering is often more faded;
- greater susceptibility to disease is possible.
How to plant outdoors?
The main stages of planting in open ground:
- Before landing, the place chosen in advance should be thoroughly dug up.
- Dig the required number of holes, the average depth of each is about a meter, the width is 50 cm.
- Put brick or gravel at the very bottom of the resulting pit.
- Add humus.
Note: on average, the required amount of humus is from 4 to 5 kg (depending on the characteristics and characteristics of the soil). In the southern regions, it is allowed to add a smaller amount than in the northern ones.
Advice: if landing in autumn time years, it is better to add compost from fallen leaves to the soil.
- Put superphosphate and potassium salt, 40 grams of each substance.
Note: the use of various fertilizers is allowed, the main thing is to carefully study their composition, potassium and phosphorus must be present there.
- Carefully process the roots of the seedlings.
Note: ideal solution - epin, you need to lower the seedlings into it for about 20 minutes, this will allow the plant to take root and bloom faster in the future.
- Carefully place the seedling in the hole, cover with soil.
- Straighten all the leaves.
- Manually flatten the soil.
- Drizzle (but not hard).
Note: it is not uncommon that after watering the neck is exposed, in this case it is necessary to add more soil.
The main stages of planting such a plant in the regions of the Moscow region as a whole do not differ from other regions, however, they have their own characteristics:
- it is recommended to do landing exclusively in the spring;
- add a thicker layer of sand to the bottom of the dug hole, at least 20 centimeters, since the risk of flooding in this region is slightly higher in comparison with the southern regions and the Chernozem region;
- add humus in the amount of 5.5–6 kg.
Advice: it is better not to plant varieties with decorative leaves, as they prefer hot climates. In the Moscow region, especially in the cold summer, such weigels will not take root or will not bloom well enough.
Care
In order for weigela to take root properly and bloom in a timely manner, special care is required:
- be sure to remove all weeds.
Advice: it is better not to wait until they have grown too much, but to weed them out immediately after they appear.
- water, especially during dry periods. Watering requires pure water, most importantly, without chlorine. Rain or spring is ideal.
Note: if the summer is not dry, then you can do without watering, the main thing is to carefully monitor the condition of the leaves and soil.
- loosen regularly, as a rule, this should be done about 2 times a month;
- cover the plant during strong winds, heavy rain, sudden frosts;
Note: Greenhouse films are excellent for these purposes.
- remove dried leaves.
Every spring it is necessary to carry out sanitary pruning (but only after the weigela has faded) - all the shoots that have been damaged are pruned.
If the plant was planted taking into account all the requirements, then do groundbait only needed for 3 years. It is carried out in several stages:
- when thawed;
- before flowering;
- at the end of flowering.
Advice: for bait, you need to purchase specialized fertilizers, which are taken for each individual bush in an amount of 30 grams.
Preparing for the cold
Preparatory measures are carried out only after the plant has dropped all the foliage. The main stages of preparation:
- backfilling the trunk with soil (it will be about 15–20 centimeters high);
- link all branches to each other;
- cover with a blanket, in some cases it is allowed to cover with roofing material (if the plant is strong and tall).
Note: The fabric of the material must be breathable.
How to propagate?
There are several options:
Note: many are covered with ordinary empty plastic bottles, but it has been noted that cuttings covered with film sprout faster and are stronger and healthier in the future.
Advice: cuttings definitely need to be treated with a special solution for root formation.
Seeds and cuttings need daily watering, and the water should be settled and not cold. It is also necessary to ventilate them, it is better to do this at the same time, for example, in the morning and in the evening.
Weigela is appreciated by gardeners and landscape designers for high decorative properties ... Luxurious bushes with buds of incredible shades adorn thousands of gardens and summer cottages.
Flowers
Weigela ornamental shrub delights connoisseurs of true beauty. The flowers of this plant look great against the background of emerald lawns.
Variegated or bright green leaves accentuate the pleasing appearance of the weigela flowers. Tubular buds up to 5 cm in size are often collected in inflorescences. There are varieties with single flowers.
Breeders brought many hybrid varieties with buds of various shades... There is even an original Carnival variety: on one bush there are flowers of different tones.
The color of the petals ranges from pale whites and creams to rich pinks and purples. Some varieties have dark, crimson-red and brown buds.
The color of the buds may change during the flowering season. Weigela blooms twice a year:
- first time in May;
- the second period is in August - September.
Weigela in landscape design
The plant with spectacular flowers and vibrant leaves is ideal for creating original compositions in areas of different sizes.
Weigela ornamental shrub is used:
- For bright hedges. Maintain sufficient distance between bushes.
- As a tapeworm. Blooming weigela looks great against the background of an ideal lawn. It is advisable to plant single bushes in regions with a warm climate.
- To create alpine slides. Low-growing varieties are suitable.
- To decorate forest edges against the background of conifers or near tall trees.
- In mixborders in combination with dwarf bows, delicate irises and other spring flowers. Compact varieties are suitable for this purpose.
Varieties. Descriptions. Photo
For many years, breeders have been breeding new varieties of the ornamental weigela shrub. Hybrid varieties are obtained by crossing several species of weigela.
One of the main advantages of hybrids is their higher decorative properties. The resulting varieties breeding work are grown more often than pure species.
Gardeners have long known many varieties of ornamental shrubs. Weigela - suitable material for breeding new varieties.
For you - a description and colorful photos of popular varieties of the weigela plant and an acquaintance with interesting new products that are successfully used in landscape design and which will help to decorate your garden or area around the house.
Early
The bush reaches two meters in height. Peculiarity - dense dense crown... In spring and summer, the leaves are bright green, by the fall the ocher color appears.
The stems are almost invisible. The bark on young shoots is colored in light brown and red shades.
The flowering period is 10-30 days. Delicate buds are light, purple-red.
Photo of early weigela.
Red Prince
A popular variety native to America. Spherical bush with a diameter of 1.5 m. The crown is neat, the leaves are rich green.
The flowers are bright red, large, up to 5 cm long. This variety blooms in early June, the second time in early September.
Photo by Weigela Red Prince.
Coins
The variety of this weigela is distinguished by unique color of leaf plates... Variegated, brownish-pink, greenish leaves with pinkish-white edging immediately attract increased attention to the shrub.
One of the lowest dwarf varieties grows no more than 60–70 cm in height. The width of the bush does not exceed 80 cm.
Delicate pink flowers are collected in inflorescences of two or three buds. Veigela blooming Monet won the Grand Prix at a specialized exhibition in Holland in 2004.
Weigela Minor Black
Low shrub - up to 60 cm.The variety is distinguished by the original, dark red, closer to black, shade of leaves.
Bell-shaped, pink-red buds bloom in late May - early June. The variety loves sunny areas.
Magic Rainbow
This interesting variety of weigela is in demand by gardeners. Peculiarity: the changing color of the leaves during the seasons... At the end of spring, the border along the edges of the leaf plate is yellow-green, and in autumn it is already red-pink. No wonder the name of this variety in translation sounds like "Magic rainbow"
Pink buds appear in June. The bush tolerates partial shade well, but it is advisable to plant the plant in lighted places. It tolerates winter well. Shelter with spruce branches is required.
Eva Rathke
The pride of Polish breeders. The variety was bred in Gdansk in 1890. The bush is low - up to 1 m, but the crown diameter reaches 3 m!
The blooming weigela variety Eva Rathke has pointed elliptical leaves up to 10 cm long. long flowering period from June to August... Red carmine buds inside a lighter shade.
Victoria
Weigela's ornamental shrub pleases not only beautiful flowers, but also leaves of incredible shades. This characteristic is 100% suitable for the description interesting variety Victoria.
The leaf plates have serrated edges, a deep red-brown tone, and an elliptical shape. Flowers look beautiful against the background of the crown of an unusual color.
The shrub grows slowly. Maximum height no more than 2 m, more often: meter - one and a half.
In June, weigela Victoria is decorated with inflorescences.
Peculiarity: if there is a second flowering in September (which does not happen every year), then only single buds will appear.
Carnival
The name of the variety accurately reflects the appearance of this ornamental plant... At the same time, the bush is decorated with buds three types... Bright shades of pink and red flowers are mixed with the delicate whiteness of white buds.
Weigela variety Carnival- fast-growing, the height of the bush reaches one and a half meters. The buds reach 4 cm. The inflorescences are located at the tops of short shoots or in the leaf axils.
Rosea
A popular variety, a hybrid of Korean and flowering weigela. The bush with a spreading crown is low - up to one and a half meters.
Peculiarity - large pale pink flowers... Winter-hardy variety, enough foliage to protect from cold weather.
Variegated
A beautifully flowering variety of weigela. Leaves green with white edging... Flowers up to 4 cm in size are collected in groups or single. The buds are red-pink, the edges of the petals are lighter in color.
The flowering period is from May to June. Sometimes the second time the buds appear in early September.
Brighella
A beautiful compact bush with a height of 1.5 to 2 m grows well even in arid areas. Watering, of course, is mandatory, but the Brighella variety withstands the lack of the required amount of moisture better than others.
Peculiarity: side branches original form, an interesting shade of bell-shaped buds. The flowers are lighter inside than outside. The ornamental weigela Brigell shrub with deep red-pink buds will add color to even the most boring area.
Candida
The new variety quickly gained popularity among landscape designers and hobby gardeners. Luxurious shrub up to 2 m high covered snow white bell-shaped flowers.
The buds are collected from the inflorescence in several pieces. The shade will not fade even during the wilting period.
The leaves are light green, the crown is quite dense.
Weigela Candida prefers warm places without strong gusts of wind.
Naomi Campbell
An original variety with bronze, sometimes deep reddish-brown foliage. Glossy sheet plates- the darkest among all varieties of weigels.
The flowering period is June - July, the buds are dark pink. The bush is highly decorative. The buds stand out clearly against the background of the bronze-red foliage.
Slow-growing shrub grows only 80 cm. The variety requires shelter for the winter.
Lucifer
An unusual, memorable variety. The leaves are juicy, bright green. Weigela Lucifer variety grows quickly, blooms profusely... Shrub height - up to 2.5 m.
Bell-shaped buds, dark red, bright. Do not change color during the wilting period. You can achieve the second wave of flowering in time summer pruning weigels. In August - September, the bush can be covered with flowers again.
Sunny Princesses
The original look of the shrub is explained a combination of pleasant pink flowers and green leaves with yellow edging... The height of the bush is up to one and a half meters, the width is the same.
It tolerates both the sun and partial shade. We need fertile soil and timely loosening. The variety is afraid of severe drought. Looks great in single and group plantings.
Photo of a bush of weigela Sunny Princesses with pink flowers.
All Summe ed
The new variety appeared on the market in 2013 and immediately got into the TOP-10 varieties of weigela. Ornamental shrub prized for continuous flowering.
In May - June, the bush is strewn with tubular flowers of a bright red hue. Re-flowering begins immediately.
The height of the shrub with bright green leaves is up to 1 m, the width is up to 1.8 m. For the All Samme red variety, buds are characteristic both on young and old shoots.
You need to prune every two to three years. Experts advise to shorten the shoots immediately after the first flowering.
This variety is used in pots and containers. The cultivar has received an award for its long flowering period.
Weigela - ornamental shrub, in demand in landscape design... Create a wonderful corner on your site, in which a delightful weigela will play a central role.
Choose interesting hybrid varieties. At proper care beautiful flowering shrub will delight the eye for a long time.
When weigela blooms for the first time in late spring, it already brings an unforgettable experience, and the second August bloom of this plant is generally perceived as a small miracle. See how good weigela is in the next photo. Its large, bell-shaped flowers gradually take on their color. This is how a photograph appears, gradually gaining brightness and saturation of colors.
Blooming weigela, hybrid Eva Rathke
The first flowers on the weigela shrub appear in the spring, on the annual shoots that have grown over the fall. The second late summer color is formed on green cuttings of the current year.
This feature of the double flowering of the plant also affects the planting of the weigela and its care in open ground... Flowering and appearance bush from correctly pruning and crown formation, which will be discussed below in a separate chapter.
Biological features
Weigela belongs to the honeysuckle family. It comes from the eastern and South-East Asia, some of its species are found in the wild in our Far East. This erect shrub has large funnel-shaped buds up to five centimeters long, in shape they resemble bells.
The plant is light-loving, so it grows better in well-lit places. Despite the deciduous nature and winter hardiness, weigela is relatively thermophilic, does not like northern and northwestern winds, in some areas it requires shelter for the winter.
Weigela prefers neutral soils, only some species are able to grow on slightly acidic peatlands.
In Europe, the shrub appeared only in the 19th century, and got its name from the German biologist and chemist, professor of botany Christian Ehrenfried von Weigel. This name was given to the plant at the turn of the century by a friend of von Weigel, the Swedish botanist Karl Peter Thunberg, an expert wildlife East Asia and one of the correspondents of the famous Carl Linnaeus.
Species, varieties and hybrids
Weigela species, varieties and hybrids differ according to various criteria. Let's list the most common and popular in our country and neighboring countries.
Early or pleasant
Weigela early or pleasant homeland (Weigela praecox) is Far East... A two-meter bush with downy feathers blooms at the end of May from ten to thirty days. The flowers are bright pink, they are articulated in inflorescences of two or three pieces. The yawning part of the flowers can be yellowish or white-yellow.
Nice or early weigela
Middendorf
Weigela middendorffiana is also Far Eastern in origin. This species can grow on slightly acidic soils. The bush with upward shoots reaches a height of half a meter. It blooms in a delicate yellow with an orange center twice a season. The period of both blooms reaches thirty days.
This type of weigela belongs to winter-hardy varieties, therefore, it winters well in the middle lane without any shelter.
Weigel Middendorf
Blooming
Weigela flowering (Weigela Florida) is a kind of shrubs with leaves that do not fall off even in winter, they reach almost three meters in height.
Weigela blooming
Among the varieties of this species, there are such forms as:
- Weigela purple, or veigela red (Weigela Purpurea) is a one and a half meter plant with a dense crown. Its leaves are red-brown and the flowers are deep pink with a yellowish center. This variety of weigela blooms in June-July.
- Weigela Nana Purpurea is an analogue of purple, only its size is two times smaller.
- Albatoge dwarf undersized weigela with white flowers, which, when wilted, gradually acquire a pink color;
- Variegata is a very elegant variety with small leaves and pink buds, which are collected in small bright brushes. The most frost-resistant of the varieties.
- Weigela Victoria (Weigela florida Victoria) is a short, about one meter tall plant with dark red flowers and brownish-red leaves.
- Weigela Alexandra has dark, almost black leaves and pink buds.
- Weigela pink (Weigela florida Bunge) has flowers of a pink-carmine shade outside the petals and a pale pink throat. The variety blooms in the month of May.
Pink or abundantly flowering weigela
Weigela Korean
Weigela Korean (Weigela Coraeensis) is a low plant up to one and a half meters with small bells collected in inflorescences. The color changes gradually from white to pink, flowering over two weeks in early June. Leaves are light green.
Korean weigela
Hybrid
Weigela hybrid ( Weigela hybrida) can bloom white and purple, red and purple, yellow or pink flowers depending on its hybridization. All hybrids reach a height of one and a half to three meters and have a spreading crown.
Reproduction of weigela
Propagation of weigela is possible by seeds or green cuttings. The seed path is long and difficult, but this way you can get new varieties, for example, by mail and then cultivate on your site.
Under the bushes in the spring you can see a lot of overgrowth, these are the seeds of weigela that have sprouted in the fall. You can use these seedlings, but in hybrid forms, the offspring will not always have parental characteristics.
If you want to sow seeds collected from bushes or purchased elsewhere, then this can be done at the time of sowing vegetable crops for example with tomatoes in early March. Film-covered pots are kept in a warm place with a temperature of 22-25 degrees for up to three weeks, after which, when shoots appear, they are taken out on a light windowsill.
When the plants reach 10-15 centimeters in height, they are planted in a garden bed for growing. And it is best to plant seedlings in a permanent place in the spring of next year.
However, the best way to propagate the weigela is by cuttings. At the same time, the seedlings turn out to be strong, and when planted in the next season in a permanent place, they may even bloom.
Weigela is best propagated by green cuttings, which should be cut in June. After processing the cuttings with a solution of a root formation stimulator, the survival rate of such cuttings is more than 80 percent.
Propagation by lignified cuttings gives the worst results. Such cuttings can be cut in the spring from the overwintered growths of last year or in the fall from the shoots of the current season. In the second case, the cuttings are stored in the refrigerator, and rooting is carried out in May-April next year.
Planting seedlings
Saplings are planted in the spring after the soil warms up, but before the abundant sap flow begins. For planting, weigels choose elevated areas protected from cold winds.
Nutrient soil mixed with river sand for better aeration of the roots. The distance between pairs of weigela plants should not be less than one and a half meters.
After planting, the soil under the bushes must be mulched well to keep the soil from drying out. It is not recommended to loosen the soil under the weigela because of the danger of damage to its surface roots.
Bush care
Growing weigela requires compliance with some important agricultural techniques, without which high performance cannot be achieved:
- feeding and watering;
- trimming;
- mulching;
- shelter for the winter.
The first feeding is done at the beginning of the season. How to feed the weigela in the spring? It is best to dilute chicken droppings (1:20) or mullein (1: 5), then mix with herbal infusion and water the bushes abundantly after the ground thaws. After that, mulch to a height of at least ten centimeters with last year's fallen leaves, straw or hay.
The following dressings should be carried out with herbal infusion, depending on the condition of the bushes. Watering is combined with top dressing, the frequency depends on weather conditions, in other words, on the amount of precipitation.
The most important measure for caring for a weigela is pruning. There are three types of pruning for this shrub:
- Sanitary pruning of weigela in the spring. During this period, all branches that have frozen and broken off during the winter are removed, and unnecessary growth is cut out.
- Formative pruning. It is carried out in the summer after the end of the first flowering. The branches of the growth of the current year are cut off, on which autumn flowering will occur.
- Anti-aging pruning. It is held every two to three years. Unnecessary old skeletal branches that are more than three years old are removed. The rest of the branches are pruned by a third of the length for more branching.
To conclude the story about Weigel, take a look interesting video:
Weigela Alexandra bushes do not stretch above two meters. They grow slowly, adding about 10 cm per year. The leaves of this variety have a specific burgundy-green color. Against the dark background of the foliage, red bell-shaped inflorescences stand out brightly.
Advice! Combining several plants one species, you can create a wonderful group planting. B. blooming looks great on its own, if salted next to the door to the house or wicket.
Weigel Middendorf
Weigela Middendorf features are yellow bell flowers, foliage not yellowing until October and two flowering periods per year. You can grow such a shrub separately or in a company.
Advice! In nature, V. Middendorf grows in forests, therefore on garden plot will look good surrounded by other bushes and rarely planted trees .
Weigela early
A very lush, abundantly flowering shrub. It is perhaps the most decorative of all types. Flowers - violet-red, bloom for 10-30 days. Bright green summer leaves turn yellow in September. Due to the dense crown, brown and gray branches are practically invisible.
Advice! Weigela early is not too frost-resistant, it requires shelter. If the winters in your area are fierce, it is better to choose a different type.
Weigela hybrid
In an effort to create the most suitable for natural conditions middle lane shape, breeders combined different types weigels, choosing their best qualities. So, hybrid shrubs have dense foliage and lush bloom, and the range of shades of buds is quite wide: purple, pink, violet, white and carmine flowers delight not only with their beauty, but also with a magnificent aroma.
Weigela hybrid includes several forms, the most famous of which is Bristol Ruby. It is a fairly tall (up to 3 m) shrub with long, bright green leaves. Ruby red with orange in the middle, weigela ruby flowers bloom in June.
Having chosen the appropriate type, you need to decide how and when to plant weigela.
The planting of the weigela was not marked by any particular difficulties. You just need to find a good place and properly arrange the landing pit.
Preparing for landing
When choosing a landing site, consider the following weigela preferences:
- Solar light... In the shade, this thermophilic plant will not bloom at full strength;
- No draft. The wind flutters the leaves and inflorescences of weigela too much, which negatively affects the development of the plant and its appearance;
- Moisture. The ground should be moist, but not marshy. Stagnation of water at the roots is not allowed;
- Priming. Weigela grows best in fertile, non-acidic, loose soils.
Advice! If the soil in your garden is highly acidic, liming it before planting the weigela.
As for seedlings, it is better to choose three-year-old samples. They are easier to accept and grow faster.
Landing
Weigels are planted in early spring. Autumn planting will not give good results, because the seedling will not have time to take root before the cold weather.
Pits 50 * 50 cm for tall bushes are dug at a distance of at least 2 m. For low varieties, a smaller gap is permissible. 15 cm from the bottom of the hole should be occupied by drainage, designed to protect the roots from decay. For these purposes, use gravel or broken brick .
Advice! If the soil is loamy, add sand to the drain.
The soil mix for weigela is usually made up of turf, sand and humus (2/2/1). Potassium salt (40 g per well) and superphosphate (60 g per well) are used as fertilizers.
Advice! If winter is harsh in your area, create a small hut for the bush, setting supports around it and tightening them with lutrasil or spunbond. Fill the place inside such a shelter with dry foliage.
It is important to ensure that there is no snow on the shelter, otherwise young shoots can be damaged.
Pruning
Dry and frostbitten branches of the weigel are pruned annually. This sanitary pruning is done in May. After flowering, formative pruning is performed, which promotes re-flowering.
Once every 2-3 years, a more thorough, rejuvenating pruning of the weigela is carried out, during which the branches that strongly thicken the bush are removed.
Diseases and pests
The main enemy of the weigela is aphids and caterpillars, gnawing leaves. The main danger is root damage. If the bush stops growing, and its leaves turn yellow and droop, carry out preventive watering of the soil with insecticides. It is quite possible that when planting, together with the compost, bears or May beetle larvae got into the pit. At the first suspicion, add the appropriate preparations to the soil (Medvetox will work well).
When correct fit weigela successfully resists disease. By periodically treating the bushes with fungicides, you will protect them from bacterial diseases.
As you can see, planting and care, pruning and reproduction of weigela are simple procedures. Conducting them consistently, you will achieve amazing results.