PlantFiles: Old Fashioned Weigela
Weigela florida

The one that I have I got the start from my grandma, up in the mountains north of Clarksville, Ar. I tried every way to get a start & none worked till I took a branch anchored it to the ground & covered it with dirt, when it had rooted I cut it off of the main plant & it grew like crazy. I got my start before my grandma passed away in 1976 & moved it here in 1985. I don't do anything to it, it blooms everyyear unless a freeze or frost gets it. I don't water it or feed it, because I just didn't have the time or energy to do so. It is special to me because it came from my grandma. How long she had hers or where it came from I don't know. I know that she didn't water hers because she would have had to draw the water for it.

Got mine as a gift in a little pot, planted it in a mostly sunny area and it's grown to about 8 or 9 feet. I don't do a thing to
it and thrives. Hummingbirds love it and deer leave it alone.

This is the first plant the hummingbirds come to in the spring. And the songbirds use it for cover. Mine was planted 6 years ago and is about 9' tall, despite yearly pruning of the less productive branches. When it's in bloom, little else can compete with its beauty.

I have two of these deciduous shrubs on the south lawn area near the house: One adjacent to the patio off the back deck; and another nearby, easily visible from the deck chairs for hummingbird patrol. In addition I added two 'Red Prince' cultivars several years ago as added hummingbird 'insurance'.

I have the "Wine and Roses" Weigela florida, and for some reason, this plant doesn't like me. I've had it for three years and it hasn't performed well at all. It starts out great in the spring, has a few blooms, then loses all the bottom leaves. Right now, it looks woody and only has leaves on the ends of the branches. Wish I knew what I was doing wrong! It's in a sunny location, well-drained soil that can be affected by drought in the hot summer.

I live outside of Charleston, IL. zone 5 on hardiness chart. I've had the Red Prince for 2 years. It is a beauty of a plant and seems to bloom a little more during the summer,but nothing like the spring. I've bought more to plant this year.
Victor Castle

I prefer Weigela florida 'variegata', as its variagated leaves have a nice light green color, which goes well with dark evergreens (in my case thuja). As long as I keep them well watered, they sporatically shoot pinkish white bell shaped flowers (very nice looking) all Summer into Fall. There is also a dwarf cultivater, I have two of which flank my front steps.

I have two of these in my yard and they do not like the shade at all - spindly growth and few flowers. Though they grow all over in the South, they are actually native to Japan.

I have three of these shrubs in my garden, they are the most prolific flowering bushes I have ever had. They are wonderful in spring with their masses of flowers. I feel these shrubs are coming into there own once more. I would not hesitate to recommend these shrubs to any body.

Fast-growing deciduous shrub. Some varieties are more compact than species. In late spring, arching branches bear flowers (hues depend on variety)

Note: Weigela flowers on last year's growth; prune immediately after blooming (and only if necessary to enhance shape.)