Alphabetical index of plants from "A" to "Z". Weigela Garden Queen: Weigela Planting and Care early description

It has a graceful spreading crown and luxurious flowering. Shrub up to 1.5 m tall. It is especially beautiful during flowering. The flowers are tubular-funnel-shaped, solitary or collected in a loose inflorescence. They bloom on young leafy shoots. They are pink, purple, white, pinkish-violet and violet-carmine of various shades, have a delicate, pleasant aroma.

Under this name, several hybrid forms are combined that differ in the color of flowers and leaves. They are obtained as a result of crossings between species of weigel: flowering, garden, Korean and abundantly flowering. In horticulture, hybrid forms are used more often than wild species.

In Russia, the following varieties are popular among amateurs:

"Bristol Ruby" ("Bristol Ruby") - variety obtained in the USA in 1941. The height of the bushes is 2.5-3 m, the crown diameter is up to 3.5 m. The leaves are bright green, 6-10 cm long. The flowers are ruby ​​red at the edges, sometimes with an orange-red center. Blossoms in June-July, grows quickly.

Weigela "Bristol Ruby"
Photo by Andrey Ganov

"Gustav Malle" ("Gustave Mallet") - a hybrid between blooming and in Korean. Shrub up to 2.5 m tall. It has large (up to 5 cm in diameter) pink-carmine flowers with a wide white border. Blooms in late May for three weeks. In GBS since 1948, 3 samples (5 copies) were grown from seedlings obtained from Potsdam and from cuttings taken from collection plants. Height 2.8 m, crown diameter 250 cm plant grows from late April to October. The growth rate is average. Blooms in June. The fruits are not tied. Winter hardiness is high. 100% of cuttings take root when treated with phyton.

"Debussy" ("Desboisii") - a hybrid between garden and c. profusely flowering, with dark carmine small flowers. Blooms profusely in the second half of May for 20 days. Shrub 2.5-3 m tall. One of the early flowering varieties.

"Eva Rathke" ("Eva Rathke") - a hybrid between Korean and c. profusely flowering. Obtained in 1890 in Poland (Gdansk). Low shrub (0.7-1 m tall), compact, crown diameter 2-3 m. Leaves elliptical, pointed, 6-10 cm long, bright green. The flowers are red-carmine, tubular, shiny, lighter inside. Blooms in June-August, grows moderately fast. In Moscow winters with shelter.

"Fieri Lemoine" ("Feerie Lemoine") - bush up to 1 m high, flowers rather large, light pink. The origin of the variety is unknown.

"Rosea" ("Rosea")- a hybrid between blooming and in Korean. Has a very large flowers spike-shaped, pink, slightly mottled with white. The height of the bush is up to 1.5 m, the crown is spreading. Leaves are variegated red in autumn. This variety winters better than all the above, it needs only a little cover with a leaf.

Varieties are widely known abroad:

"Candida" ("Candida")- a hybrid between blooming and in Korean with pure white flowers. Shrub up to 2 m high. Flowers retain purity of color even during wilting. Blooms in the third decade of May. Flowering continues for three weeks.

"Styriaka" ("Styriaca")- a hybrid between Korean and c. profusely flowering with light green leaves and pink flowers 2.5 cm long, reminiscent of the color of strawberries. It blooms profusely in May-June, when the flowers fade, they become carmine. Flowering lasts 16-18 days. The height of the bush is 2-2.5 m, the diameter of the openwork crown is 3 m. It grows quickly. Winters with cover. Unlike other weigels, cut flowers remain fresh for a long time. In GBS since 1948, 1 sample (2 copies) was grown from seedlings obtained from Germany. Height 1.5 m, trunk diameter 150 cm plant grows from late April to October. The growth rate is average. Blooms from mid-June to early July. The fruits are not tied. Partially freezes over in winter. 100% of cuttings take root when treated with phyton.

"Newport Red ("Newport Red") - variety with bright green leaves and large flowers. The height and diameter of the crown of the shrub is about 3 m. The leaves are bright green. Flowers carmine red to purple. Corolla length 3 cm. Flowering time: June-July. Flowering time is about three weeks. It grows quickly, winters with shelter.

"Marc Tellier" ("Marc Tellier") - shrub up to 3 m tall. The flowers are very large, up to 5 cm in diameter, carmine-pink. Blooms from the end of May. Flowering time is 20 days. Flowers do not fade in the sun.

"Pierre Duchartre" ("Pierre Duchartre") - shrub up to 1.5 m tall. The buds are blackish. The flowers are medium in size, dark brown-red with a purple edge. Blooms in late May for three weeks.

Among the group of weigels with different leaf colors are interesting: f sieboldii argenteo-marginata - with white-bordered leaves and pink flowers; f. kosteriana variegata - undersized, with yellow-bordered leaves and pink flowers; f. nana variegata - white-and-white, dwarf, with almost white flowers, etc.

"Looymansii Aurea". A small shrub about 1 m high, a little wider. Leaves 5-8 cm long. At the beginning of summer they are pale yellow, and then turn green. The plant is also spectacular at the time of flowering in spring, when it is covered with pink flowers collected in a brush. This weigela is best planted in light partial shade, in the light it often suffers from heat.In light shade, it looks, although not so golden, but more attractive, since it does not “burn” in the sun.

Most hybrid forms can be cultivated in the southern and middle zones of the European part of Russia. Insufficiently frost-resistant, needs shelter for the winter in middle lane Russia. Likes moist, fertile soils.

Every gardener strives to ennoble his site with beautiful long-flowering plants. It is to these that the chic weigela shrub, which has become very popular recently, belongs.

Weigela is an ornamental shrub that belongs to deciduous species. The name of the plant was in honor of the German scientist, chemist, pharmacologist, botanist and owner of the botanical garden Christian Ehrenfried von Weigel. The homeland of weigela is considered to be Central Asia, which indicates the thermophilic culture. In the middle latitudes there will be proper cultivation frost-resistant varieties of shrubs.

Weigela shrubs have rarely growing cross-paired leaves, slightly oval in shape and serrated edges. Unusual bell flowers or gromophones, as they are also called, grow in inflorescences of 5-6 pieces and reach up to 5 cm in diameter. They have a very pleasant aroma and color scheme- white, all shades of pink, cream, purple and red. Weigela fruits look like a small round box, consisting of two halves, which is filled with seeds. A distinctive feature of the flowers is the ability to change their color several times during the flowering period - from light pink to bright red. Weigela, blooming in June-July, can bloom again in August, so you have a chance to enjoy the beauty of this plant for almost the entire season. Weigela, depending on the variety, can reach a height of 50 cm to 2-3 m. The shrub looks great as a border along the paths, and can serve as a hedge instead of boring fences.

How beautiful weigela blooms you can see in the photo:

Varieties and types of weigela

In total, weigela has about 15 varieties growing in Central Asia, on Far East and even on the island of Java. We list the most popular of them:

1. Weigela is early, it is also pleasant - it grows mainly in the Far East. It reaches a height of almost 2 m, has juicy green leaves and inflorescences of 3-4 bright pink flowers. The flowering period starts from the first days of May and lasts up to 30-40 days.
2. Weigela Middendorf - a bush of medium height (1-1.5 m) has bright yellow single flowers with an orange center. The flowering period is May-June and July-August.
3. Weigela hybrid is a profusely flowering bush of medium height (up to 1.5 m) with a wide dense crown. Flowers can be red, white, pinkish, purple and lilac. The most popular varieties:

• weigela bristol, she is also weigela ruby ​​- a variety bred in the USA in the early 40s of the 20th century. The bush grows up to 3 m in height, the crown reaches 3.5 m in diameter. It has large bright green leaves. The flowers are bright red, one might say almost ruby ​​​​colored along the edge and with a bright orange center. The flowering period is June-July. Differs in rapid growth;
• weigela "Red Prince" - a variety also bred in the USA. Shrub up to 1.5 m in height with bright red flowers that look almost ruby ​​against the background of juicy green leaves.

1. Weigela Florida (blooming) - a shrub up to 3 m in height has inflorescences of 3-4 bright pink flowers. Flowering period - end of May - mid-June. It has several varieties:

• weigela purple (red) - a bush of medium height (up to 1.5 m) with a wide dense crown. It has red-brown leaves and bright pink flowers with a yellow center. Flowering period - June-July;
• "Nana Purpurea" - a complete reduced copy of the purple weigela;
• "Alba" - a dwarf species of weigela. flowers white color from the moment of withering, they begin to acquire a pinkish tint;
• "Variegata" - the most frost-resistant type of culture, has small green leaves and brushes of small bright pink flowers;
• weigela pink - a low bush with flowers of a bright pink hue outside and white inside;
• variety "Victoria" - a dwarf bush up to 1 m in height has red-brown leaves and flowers of almost crimson color.

Growing weigela

Weigela not really whimsical plant, but some knowledge and skills for those who want to grow crops still do not interfere.

Weigela reproduction

The plant reproduces in two ways:

• seeds;
• cuttings.

Cuttings are a more common method of propagation among gardeners. Weigela seeds are bred more often in nurseries.

Stages of cuttings:

1. Do not use wood cuttings, otherwise you will have to wait a long time for the result - at least 5 years. For cuttings, young green shoots are more suitable.
2. It is best to cut the cuttings in early June.
3. Choose cuttings 10-12 cm long, cutting them at right angles with a sharp garden knife.
4. There should be 2-3 leaves on the handle.
5. Treat the cut shoots with a solution that stimulates growth and leave them in a darkened room at a temperature not exceeding 20 ° C for 10-12 hours. Well, if you have a greenhouse, it will be most comfortable for cuttings to germinate in it.
6. Later, prepared cuttings can be planted in peat-sandy soil to a depth of 0.5-1 cm so that they take root.
7. Sprinkle the cuttings with sand and cover with foil.
8. Be sure to moisten the cuttings 1-2 times a day. You can not water, but spray the seedlings.
9. If you do everything right, then in 35-40 days the cuttings will take root.
10. After 1.5-2 years, it will be possible to plant the plant in a permanent place.

Stages of propagation by seeds:

1. Weigela seeds do not require special preparation before planting.
2. Collect fertilized soil mixed with sand in boxes and sow seeds in it.
3. Sprinkle a small layer of sand on top and tighten with a film.
4. After 3 weeks, the first shoots will sprout.
5. When the first 2-3 leaves appear, the seedlings must dive.
6. In spring, seedlings can be planted in open ground.
7. Seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place, as in the case of cuttings - after 1.5-2 years.

Choice of location and soil

First of all, you need to decide on a place where the weigel will be comfortable, and choose favorable soil for it:

1. The shrub most of all prefers light or slightly shaded elevated areas, protected from the wind by tall trees or small buildings.
2. Weigela loves fertile loose soils, and at the same time does not tolerate waterlogging. Try to plant the plant away from areas prone to flooding and prolonged water standing. From growing in places with high levels ground water it is desirable to refuse altogether.
3. Weigela does not tolerate acidic soils, they must be extinguished with lime.
4. In dark areas, weigela blooms later, the flowering period is reduced or does not begin at all.

Planting weigela

Best of all, weigela takes root in the spring, from March to April. If you plant a shrub in the fall, it may grow slowly or even die. In case you managed to purchase seedlings in the fall, it is better to dig them in a reclining position and wrap the crown with foil until spring. If you plan to buy seedlings from a nursery, then choose bushes that are at least 3 years old.

So, planting weigela consists of the following steps:

1. Dig up the selected area and add organic and mineral fertilizers to the soil, then dig the soil again.
2. Dig a hole 50-60 cm deep.
3. At the bottom, be sure to lay drainage in the form of gravel and sand with a layer of 15 cm.
4. If you plant several bushes at once, then the distance between them should be at least 3 m for high varieties and 1 m for dwarf weigela.
5. Lower the seedlings into the hole, without deepening the root collar, and sprinkle it with earth.
6. Pack and mulch the soil around the shrub, then water it.

Weigela, which is planted correctly, will quickly take root and bloom in the first summer season.

Weigela care

Weigela, despite not very troublesome cultivation, still needs a certain and regular care:

1. Be sure to regularly moisten the soil, but do not overdo it so as not to kill the plant.
2. Loosen the soil as often as possible, this will enrich it with oxygen.
3. Regular weeding is required.
4. Mulch the soil after each loosening and weeding, this will help reduce the amount of watering and the growth of weeds around shrubs. As mulch, you can use sawdust, tree bark or dry foliage, grass.
5. Trim dry and frostbitten branches every spring and autumn.
6. And, of course, you need to feed the bushes with mineral and organic fertilizers.

Shrub nutrition

If you have properly prepared the soil and fed it with fertilizers, then for the first 2 years you don’t have to worry too much, the bushes will have enough of all the necessary trace elements. After 2 years, feed as follows:

1. Weigela needs the first feeding in the spring, after the snow melts. This will stimulate the growth of the plant, help to appear a large number young shoots. Apply a mixture of nitrogen, potash and phosphorus fertilizers to the soil. Before fertilizing the soil, be sure to read the instructions for each fertilizer so as not to harm the shrubs.
2. The period of the second feeding is the end of May or the beginning of June, during the period of bud formation, but even before flowering. Apply superphosphates and potassium sulphate, nitrogenous fertilizers are not needed during this period, as they will slow down the maturation of the wood and may even cause plant rot. Superphosphates will contribute to abundant flowering, and potash fertilizers strengthen the branches, thereby preparing them for the winter season so that they do not suffer from frost.
3. The third and last top dressing is carried out in the fall, after the shrubs have faded. The best fertilizer during this period will wood ash(200 g per 1 sq. m). Add it to the soil and dig it up.

Shrub pruning

The first 2-3 years, a young plant needs only sanitary pruning in case of frostbite or damage to the branches. Further pruning of the weigela is carried out as follows:

1. Frozen, damaged, weakened and diseased branches are cut in early spring.
2. At the end of each summer, after flowering, until young shoots begin to grow, spend decorative pruning, forming the crown of the shrub. In case of delay, postpone pruning until autumn, so as not to damage new branches, which may re-bloom.
3. Every 3-4 years, it is necessary to rejuvenate shrubs by removing old branches that are more than 3 years old. Rejuvenating pruning protects the plant from diseases and pests that like to settle in the bark of old shoots.

Pest control

Like any plant, weigela is very attractive. various pests that serve as carriers of diseases. The most dangerous of them are:

• aphids green and black;
• leaf-eating caterpillars;
• spider mites;
• thrips;
• Chafer;
• bears.

These pests are especially dangerous for young shrubs. Most often, harmful insects are active in drought. But, since weigela no longer blooms during this period, they are not dangerous for flowers, but they can harm the foliage. If you notice aphids or spider mites on the leaves, treat the shrubs with special products. But the root system of the weigela is constantly in danger. Remember, that:

1. You can bring the larvae of the bear and the May beetle along with organic fertilizers.
2. Carefully monitor the leaves of the weigela - if they begin to turn yellow and curl, then it is urgent to process the root system: pour the soil at the roots with karbofos.
3. If you know that a bear is found on your site, then add a bear tox when planting a weigela in a hole.

Preparing for winter

When the shrubs fade and the leaves fall from them, the period of preparation for winter begins:

1. Cut off damaged and broken branches.
2. Remove the fallen leaves and sprinkle the near-stem circle with earth, forming a mound 20-25 cm high.
3. Tie the branches of the shrub and wrap them with oilcloth, burlap or cover with roofing material.

As you can see, weigela is not whimsical to grow and caring for it is simple. This beautiful and noble plant deserves to be grown in your favorite garden.

Growing weigela. Video

Editor Flowers and shrubs 7422

Weigela is a decorative lush flowering shrub honeysuckle family. Its flowers in the form of bells of a wide variety of colors will delight you in early spring, in mid-May. Among ornamental shrubs weigela is different characteristic feature: the color of its inflorescences is fickle. Blooming corollas are pale at first, but gradually their color becomes more saturated.

Hardy and unpretentious shrub often planted to form a hedge. Despite the fact that the plant has a wide crown, it grows fairly evenly, so weigela pruning is not burdensome. In total, there are more than 15 species, whose homeland is East Asia and the Far East. Among them, the most common are: flowering weigela, early weigela, Middendorf weigela and hybrid weigela.

Main types and varieties

In Europe, flowering weigela is the most popular, which is a shrub whose height can reach 3 m. Its large flowers, 2.5–3 cm long, are connected into small inflorescences that bloom on short lateral shoots. The color of the corolla, dark pink at the edges and pale pink in the center, darkens as the flower wilts. As a rule, the shrub begins to bloom in late May - early June. The green leaves of the plant persist until late autumn. Weigela blooming is divided into several varieties:

• Variegata is the most frost-resistant garden form of weigela with small leaves. Plant height and crown diameter - 2.5 m. Intense pink flowers Variegates are collected in brushes and reach 3.5 cm in diameter. For rocky gardens, a dwarf form is often used - Nana Variegata. This low shrub grows slowly and does not exceed 1 m;
• Alba is the tallest and most spreading shrub among this species. Its height reaches 3 m, and the diameter of the crown is 3.5 m. The white flowers of this variety turn pink as they fade. The color of the leaves is characterized by characteristic white speckles;
• Alexandra is a weigela variety with a compact crown. The height of the bush rarely exceeds 1.5 m. Its bright crimson flowers bloom in May. Among weigels, Alexandra stands out for her unusual crown color: her purple leaves persist until the first frost;
• Weigel Middendorf - graceful shrub with ascending branches 1.5 m high. The flowers are pale yellow with a golden center, solitary or in small inflorescences. The leaves are green, pubescent along the veins on both sides. Weigela Middendorf blooms 2 times a year, for a month. It is planted under trees with a sparse crown or single and group shrubs are used to decorate the edges;
• Weigela early grows on rocky slopes in China and North Korea. A bush 1.5–2 m high has a spherical crown. Flowers solitary or connected in 2-3 buds per inflorescence. The bright pink color of the petals on the outside and purple-red inside looks very impressive. The shrub blooms from late May to early June, from 10 to 30 days. Weigela early is often used in landscape design to create hedges.

In horticulture, weigela hybrid is used more often than its wild species. A picturesque shrub with a spreading crown looks great during flowering. Depending on the color of its flowers, weigela hybrid is divided into several varieties. Among them are:

• bristol ruby ​​- fast growing shrub reaching 3 m in height. It has a very wide crown with a diameter of up to 3.5 m. The shrub of the Bristol ruby ​​variety blooms profusely in June - July. Due to the numerous flowers with a rich dark red color, this variety of weigela is especially popular among gardeners and landscape designers;
• Eva Rathke is a hybrid weigela, the height of which usually does not exceed 1 m. The shrub, which has a sprawling crown up to 3 m, blooms in June - August. Its red brilliant flowers are collected in graceful inflorescences;
• Rosea - a variety of weigela, hallmark which are very large flowers of a pale pink hue, with a characteristic limb. A bush 1.5 m high tolerates winter better than all the listed varieties. Even in autumn, the plant looks picturesque, thanks to the variegated red leaves.

Planting and reproduction

The best time to plant weigela is from March to April. If you bought a shrub in the fall, do not rush to plant it in a permanent place: the plant will not have time to take root and will die. In this case, you should dig in the seedling, tilting it, and then cover the branches with earth. When buying a plant, it must be remembered that seedlings older than 3.5 years quickly adapt to new environmental conditions. When choosing a variety for planting, you need to focus not on its external data, but on climatic conditions in which weigela will grow. The most unpretentious and easy to care for are varieties such as Weigela Middendorf, Bristol ruby, Rosea and Variegata.

It is important to carefully choose a landing site. Weigela is a heat-loving plant that requires a lot of sunlight for normal growth. The territory for weigela should be protected from the wind, as it easily damages its fragile flowers. At the bottom of the planting pit, 0.5 m deep, a layer of sand or expanded clay should be laid out, about 15 cm thick. The soil mixture should contain turf, sand and humus, in a ratio of 2: 2: 1. When planting, it must be borne in mind that weigela has a wide crown, so it is recommended to plant bushes no closer than 3 m from each other.

Weigela propagation is carried out in two ways: by seeds and cuttings. When using the first one, it should be remembered that its seeds have good germination for one year. At home, they are sown in containers in early spring, not forgetting to cover with foil. Seedlings usually germinate in 3 weeks. When the second pair of leaves is formed on the sprouts, the seedlings dive. When young plants get stronger, pots with them are taken out into the garden and placed under not too dense crowns of trees. A two-year-old seedling, as a rule, reaches 50 cm in height and is ready for planting in open ground. Reproduction of the shrub will not be difficult if the crumbled seeds from the boxes are left on the ground. In the spring, many of them will germinate and require the same care as home-grown seedlings. When propagating plants in this way, one should not forget that seeds collected from hybrids give heterogeneous offspring. In this regard, it is best to propagate the shrub by cuttings.

Propagation by cuttings is carried out in April - early May before budding. Young shoots of the shrub, which are just beginning to become woody, are divided into cuttings 10–15 cm long. At the same time, the cut is made straight, the leaves are completely removed or no more than a third is left. The cuttings are immersed in water for 2 hours, and then they are treated with a growth stimulator for 12 hours in a warm, dark room. After that, the cuttings are immersed in a mixture of peat and sand to a depth of 1 cm for rooting, covered with polyethylene. It is recommended to water the plant at least twice a day. At proper care roots will appear in a month. When propagating weigela in this way, the young plant is transferred to a permanent place after a year and a half.

Care and preparation for winter

The shrub is quite unpretentious and does not require special care. Weigela does not tolerate soil compaction. Therefore, after each watering, it is recommended to loosen it. In the absence of this possibility, the ground should be covered with sawdust. Watering is done once a week warm water. Particularly important when caring for a shrub is the regular application of top dressing. Like any plant, weigela requires fertilizers for normal growth and development, which are applied 2 times a year. The first top dressing is carried out in March - April: it is then that the shrub needs nitrogen-containing and complex mineral fertilizers to stimulate its growth. The second top dressing is required during the budding period. For her use organic fertilizers, prolonging abundant flowering. If top dressing was done at planting, then no fertilizer is required for the next few years.

In the care of shrubs, pruning plays an important role. In the first years of his life, only dry and weak branches are removed in early spring.

In the future, they produce a crown-forming care, in the middle of summer, after flowering, until the bush has given new shoots. Also, every three years, old branches are cut to stimulate the growth of new shoots. This will protect the plant from diseases, the spores of which are contained in the old bark, and rejuvenate the shrub.

In preparation for the winter season, the plant requires additional care. In the first years of growth, it is especially susceptible to frost. This applies primarily to heat-loving varieties characterized by low frost resistance, such as Bristol ruby ​​and weigela pleasant. In November, when all the leaves fall, it is necessary to sprinkle the near-stem circle with straw or dry foliage. The height of the resulting mound should be at least 20 cm. The branches of the shrub are tied and bent to the ground, covered with burlap or modern material- spunbond. Over the years, the frost resistance of weigela increases significantly. Even after severe damage to the shoots by frost, the shrub is fully restored, retaining the ability to bloom. With proper care, weigela will delight with its colors for many years.

Plant weigela (lat. Weigela) belongs to the genus of shrubs of the honeysuckle family. The name of the plant was given in honor of the German chemist, botanist and pharmacologist Christian Ehrenfried von Weigel. In nature, weigela flowers are common in east and southeast Asia, as well as on the island of Java and the Far East. The genus is estimated at fifteen species, but in culture, 7 species and about 10 highly ornamental varieties of weigela are most often grown, which are deciduous shrubs and have such advantages as beauty and ease of reproduction and care.

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Planting and caring for weigela (in short)

• Landing: March or April.
• Bloom: from mid-May for a month, re-flowering - in August-September.
• Lighting: bright sunlight.
• The soil: loose, fresh, moderately moist and rich in humus loamy or sandy loamy soil of slightly alkaline or neutral reaction.
• Watering: moderate watering only during the dry season.
• Top dressing: after fertilization during planting, the plant can not be fed for two years, later during the growing season, three top dressings are carried out: in early spring with full mineral fertilizer, in early summer with potassium-phosphorus fertilizer, and under autumn digging- wood ash.
• Pruning: young bushes are pruned only in early spring for sanitary purposes, sanitary pruning is done for adults in the spring, and shaping pruning is done in the summer, after the first flowering. Once every 3-4 years, a rejuvenating pruning of the bush is carried out.
• Reproduction: seeds, green and semi-lignified cuttings, layering and shoots.
• Pests: aphids, thrips, caterpillars, spider mites, beetles and bears.
• Diseases: gray rot, spotting.

Read more about growing weigela below.

Weigela shrub - description

Weigela flower is moisture-loving and relatively shade-tolerant. This upright shrub does not form stolons, the leaf arrangement on its shoots is opposite, the leaves are petiolate, without stipules, serrated or serrate-toothed. Flowers, funnel-shaped or bell-shaped, up to 5 cm long, solitary or collected in loose inflorescences, are pink, cream, yellow, carmine red and other colors that can change during flowering from a lighter shade of color to a more saturated one. After flowering, the weigela bush forms fruits - bivalve boxes with small seeds.

Planting weigela

When to plant weigela

Weigela takes root best of all in the spring, during the time interval between the beginning of the soil warming up and the swelling of the buds. The autumn planting of weigela, as a rule, dies in the first winter. Choose a place for the shrub on a hill, protected from the north winds and strong drafts, due to which the flowers and buds of the plant can crumble - weigela grows best on the south side of the house. In order for the flowering of weigela to be bright and plentiful, good lighting is desirable.

The soil for weigela is rich in humus and loose- sandy or loamy, slightly alkaline or neutral reaction. The only exception is Weigela middendorffiana, which can also grow on slightly acidic peaty soils. Seedlings at least three years old are suitable for planting.

How to plant weigela

Planting a weigela plant is carried out in a pit 30-40 cm deep, but if the soil in the area is not rich, then the depth of the pit should be slightly larger so that it can be laid on its bottom, except for a fifteen-centimeter drainage layer from broken bricks, gravel or sand, a layer of fertile soil with fertilizers - 100 g of nitrophoska and one and a half buckets of compost for each weigela bush. The nutritional supplement must be thoroughly mixed with the compost. To increase survival planting material, the roots of seedlings can be treated with a solution of a root stimulator, for example, Radifarm, or Viva +.

Weigela seedlings large varieties(up to 2.5 m high) are placed at a distance of one and a half to two meters from each other, for low varieties, not higher than a meter, a gap of 80 cm is enough. compact. The root neck of the seedling is buried no more than 1-2 cm, and it is better that when the earth settles, it is flush with the surface. After planting, the seedlings are watered abundantly, the site is mulched.

Weigela care

Weigela in spring

Growing weigela is not laborious, and you will definitely cope with it. spring planting completed, and now you just have to take care of the weigela in accordance with the rules of agricultural technology: water moderately during the dry season (if the site is mulched, you will not need frequent watering), remove weeds as they appear and be sure to carefully so as not to damage the roots of the shrub , loosen the soil to the depth of the shovel bayonet.

Caring for the weigela also includes the introduction of nutritious top dressings, but if you put compost and nitrophoska under the roots during planting, then you can not fertilize the weigela for two years. In the third year, in early spring, to stimulate the growth of new shoots and leaves, apply a complete mineral fertilizer to the soil - ammophoska, diammophoska, Kemira-lux or other top dressing containing phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen.

The second time, at the end of May or the beginning of June, when the weigela forms buds, make a second top dressing, consisting of potash and phosphorus fertilizers (superphosphate, potassium sulfate), which will provide a longer and lush bloom, and at the same time strengthen the branches of the plant for the winter.

The third top dressing is carried out for autumn digging - wood ash is added at the rate of 200 grams per square meter plot or Kemira fertilizer - autumn at the dosage indicated in the instructions.

Weigela flowering

The most remarkable advantage of weigela over others garden shrubs is that it blooms twice a season: the first, very abundant flowering takes place on last year's shoots from mid-May to mid-June, the second time, but not so luxuriantly, weigela blooms in August-September on the shoots of the current year. blooming weigela- an amazing sight.

Weigela reproduction

Weigela is easily propagated by seeds, but since seed germination lasts only for one or two years, it makes no sense to arrange a rigmarole with sowing seeds in boxes and greenhouses. Moreover, it is much easier to leave the seeds that wake up in the fall in the ground, and in the spring, when they germinate, leave the strongest seedlings and grow them for two years until the time comes to transplant them to a permanent place. However, it should be remembered that when seed propagation the species properties of plants may not be preserved, therefore flower growers prefer vegetative propagation methods to seed ones: summer green or last year's semi-lignified cuttings, young shoots from a stump or layering.

From the green shoots of the current year, cut at the end of June, or last year's semi-lignified shoots, cut in early spring before the start of sap flow, as well as from the basal shoots, cuttings 10-15 cm long are cut, the lower leaves are removed from them, and the upper ones are shortened by half. The lower cut of the cuttings is treated with Kornevin, then the cuttings are planted in a mixture of sand and peat, covered with a four-centimeter layer of sand. Planting cuttings should not be deep, a depth of one centimeter is enough. From above each cutting is covered glass jar or circumcised plastic bottle, which is removed daily to ventilate and moisten the cuttings. As soon as you find a new shoot on any cutting, pinch it to stimulate tillering.

Layers are propagated as follows: one of the lowest shoots is bent to the ground, in the place where it comes into contact with the ground, the bark of the layer is slightly damaged, attached to the ground and sprinkled with soil. Next spring you will have a full-fledged weigela seedling. Please note that both cuttings and layering must be grown for three years before planting in a permanent place.

Pruning weigela

Like any shrub, weigela needs a haircut. Young bushes need only sanitary pruning, in which broken, frozen, diseased or thickening branches are removed in early spring. Mature bushes are subjected to formative pruning, which is carried out in the middle of summer after the first flowering of the weigela, while new shoots have not yet grown. But keep in mind that the second flowering occurs just on the shoots of the current year, so if you missed the time of the summer haircut, and the shoots started to grow, it’s better summer pruning do not carry out at all.

In addition, adult bushes need rejuvenating pruning every three to four years, during which all branches that are more than three years old are removed, and the rest are shortened by a third. Sometimes it makes sense to cut off all the shoots in general, and don’t worry, the weigela recovers perfectly after such pruning.

Weigela pests and diseases

Most often, weigela is affected by aphids and leaf-eating caterpillars, and in extreme heat - spider mites and thrips, but usually by the time the heat sets in, the first flowering of weigela is already coming to an end. For pest control, Rogor, Nitrafen, Keltan are used - pesticides that harm the environment. To avoid this, it is better to use insecticidal herbal infusions, for example, from wormwood, hot pepper or garlic, in order to destroy pests.

If the seedlings begin to turn yellow and wither after planting, it is quite possible that they root system May beetle larvae or mole crickets were struck, which could be brought into the planting pit with humus or compost. In this case, spill the soil with a solution of Karbofos or Aktara.

Of the diseases, rust, gray rot and spotting are dangerous for weigela. To combat bacterial and fungal diseases, Bordeaux liquid is used - milk of lime with copper sulfate. In order to prevent diseases, it is advisable to treat weigela during the appearance of leaves with a three percent solution of Topsin.

Weigela after flowering

How and when to collect weigela seeds

Weigela seeds ripen in September, and they need to be collected in November, when the boxes begin to crack. To prevent the contents of the boxes from spilling into the soil, wrap several testes with gauze in September and fix it on a branch, and in November cut off the box with gauze, bring it into the room, carefully remove the gauze, shake out the seeds on a newspaper, dry them, pour them into a paper bag, write on it the name of the plant, variety, date of bookmarking and store until spring in a dry, dark place. Remember that weigela seeds lose their germination after a year or two, and plants grown from seeds rarely retain the varietal characteristics of their parents.

Weigela in winter

When all the leaves fall from the weigela, and this happens at the end of October or the beginning of November, sprinkle the near-trunk circle of the weigela with earth, forming a hill 15-20 cm high. It is better to bend the branches of the weigela to the ground and press them against it, as is done with hydrangea, and close from above with roofing material or spunbond, fixing the coating so that it is not torn off by the wind. You can not bend the branches to the ground, but tightly tighten the branches with a rope or twine, fence the bush with a frame made of metal or plastic mesh, pour inside this structure for the warmth of dry foliage, and wrap this structure on top with a dense covering material.

Types and varieties of weigela

For gardeners in our latitudes, more or less winter-hardy species and varieties of weigela are of the greatest value. These include:

Early weigela, or pleasant weigela (Weigela praecox)

Naturally growing in the Far East. In height, the early weigela bush reaches two meters, the leaves are pubescent, the crown is spherical. The flowers, bright pink on the outside, are collected in inflorescences of 2-3 pieces on the lateral shoots of the current year. Sometimes the pharynx of flowers is colored yellowish-white, in buds the flowers have a purple tint. This species blooms from the end of May for 10-30 days. Weigela variegated is of interest - a variegated variety of early weigela, the green leaves of which are covered yellow spots, in the summer acquiring a cream shade.

Weigela blooming, or weigela florida (Weigela florida)

Shrub up to three meters high, on the shoots - two rows of hairs. Leaves on short petioles, serrate, pubescent above only along the central vein, below - along all veins. Inflorescences of 3-4 bright pink flowers open in late May and bloom for up to three weeks. Most popular forms:

• weigela purple, or red weigela (Weigela Purpurea)- a bush with a dense crown, reaching a height of one and a half meters, red-brown leaves, rich pink flowers with a yellow throat, blooms in June-July. Variety Nana Purpurea is almost exact, but a reduced copy of purple weigela;
• Alba- a dwarf form with white flowers that turn pink with withering;
• Variegata– graceful and most frost-resistant form with small leaves, bright pink flowers collected in brushes;
• weigela pink (Weigela florida Bunge)- a form with flowers of a pink-carmine hue on the outside and pale pink, almost white inside;
• weigela Victoria (Weigela florida Victoria)- a meter bush with red-brown foliage, flowers of a crimson hue.

Weigela hybrid (Weigela hybrida)

It has a spreading crown, blooms profusely. In height reaches one and a half meters. Fragrant tubular-funnel-shaped flowers, single or collected in loose inflorescences, bloom depending on the variety in white, pink, purple, lilac and red-violet. The most popular varieties are:

• Weigela Bristol Ruby- a variety bred in the USA in 1941. The height of the bush is from 2.5 to 3 m, the diameter of the crown is up to 3.5 m. The leaves are bright green. The flowers are pink with a ruby ​​red edge, sometimes with an orange center. Weigela Bristol Ruby grows very fast, blooms at the end of June;
• Weigela Red Prince- a compact bush also of American selection, one and a half meters high, the crown is sprawling, the branches are drooping, the flowers of rich red color look contrast against the background of bright green foliage.

Weigela middendorffiana

Bush 1-1.5 m high, ascending shoots, large flowers (3-4 cm), yellow with orange spots in the throat, solitary or collected in few-flowered inflorescences from 2 to 6 pieces each. Blooms twice a season.

In addition to these popular species, their varieties and varieties, profusely flowering weigela, pleasant weigela, early weigela, Japanese weigela, garden weigela, Maksimovich weigela and Korean weigela are also grown in culture.

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In some species of weigela, it is possible to obtain seedlings from seeds. The fruits of the shrub appear at 3-4 years of age. Small winged weigela seeds are hidden in oblong boxes (2-3 cm long), opening on both sides. In winter-hardy species, seeds ripen at the end of October. Weigela profusely flowering, pleasant and Korean seeds rarely ripen. Sowing is best done immediately in the fall with freshly harvested seeds, while they have good germination. After 1-2 years, their germination will greatly decrease, up to 1-5%. Until the day of sowing, the seeds should be stored in a paper or linen bag. Sowing seeds is carried out in the spring without stratification, preferably in boxes or pots with fertile soil and sand (2: 1). Seeds are sown superficially, lightly sprinkled fine sand and tightly pressing the glass on top. During the period of seed germination, the soil is regularly and carefully watered, so that the seeds do not end up on the surface of the substrate. Seedlings appear after 3 weeks.

For good growth and flowering of weigela bushes carry out systematic sanitary pruning, cut out broken, dry, diseased branches. If the tops are frozen annual shoots, then after sanitary pruning, the weigela is restored and blooms in the same year, thanks to active young growth. Sanitary pruning is carried out in spring or early summer. Cut points should be lubricated. garden pitch. Immediately after flowering, weigela branches with wilted flowers are recommended to be shortened, and old unproductive branches to be cut to well-developed renewal shoots. The most favorable time for rejuvenating weigela pruning is the end of June. With proper care, shrubs live for more than 30 years.

Care

All weigels are better suited for a mild climate, especially the southern regions of Russia. At the same time, Middendorff and early weigels successfully endure climatic conditions in areas located north of Voronezh, up to Moscow and St. Petersburg. In this region, flowering and hybrid weigela varieties can freeze slightly in years with very severe and little snowy winters. Therefore, their varieties, as well as weigels of pleasant, Korean and abundantly flowering, winter shelter is desirable, especially careful in young age and after landing. Young plants are wrapped with modern covering material, spunbond, or thick kraft paper. trunk circle the bush is sprinkled with a layer of dry foliage, or a layer of coniferous spruce branches is laid. With such care, bushes rarely freeze, and if they suffer from cold weather, they recover within one or two seasons. With age, the frost resistance of weigela bushes increases markedly.

Already adult plants growing on garden plot over 3-5 years will require significantly less attention. In winter, after a heavy snowfall, and especially in March, when the snow begins to melt, you should walk around the garden and shake off the snow from the branches. From breakage and deformation of the branches of the weigela, a wire or rack frame installed in the fall above the bush will help. It will strengthen the fragile skeleton of the bush and relieve the overwhelming load from the snow that becomes heavier by spring.

In some years, weigela bushes can varying degrees be damaged by pests and suffer from diseases that weaken the strength of shoot growth, reduce flowering intensity and winter hardiness. To combat fungal and bacterial diseases, Bordeaux liquid is used (a mixture blue vitriol with milk of lime). For the prevention of diseases - rust, leaf spot and gray rot, a slightly toxic drug is used. a wide range actions - Topsin: in the period before bud break in the form of a 3% solution, and during the growing season - 1%.

Pesticides are used against pests (aphids, leaf beetles), many of which are toxic - DNOC, nitrafen, rogor (phosphamide), keltan (dicofol). Insofar as chemical method pest control poses a certain danger to environment, to protect plants, it is better to choose decoctions and infusions of insecticidal plants (wormwood, garlic, potato tops, hot peppers, etc.).

Photo: Rita Brilliantova, Maxim Minin