Weigela: photo and description of shrubs, varieties and species with names, low-growing, frost-resistant, hybrid, ornamental trees and shrubs

Weigela is a shrub belonging to the Honeysuckle family. The culture received its name in honor of the German botanist Christian Ehrenfried von Weigel. A photo and description of the weigela shrub will help gardeners when choosing a plant for the garden.

What does weigela look like?

Weigela is a frequently used decorative element that serves as a link between tall trees and low-growing shrubs.

This plant blooms profusely from May to July. Weigela is a shrub reaching a height of three meters. The leaves are bright green and do not fall off for a long time. There are red and brown foliage colors. The flowers are large, tubular, up to 3 cm long, collected in inflorescences located on the side shoots.

How does weigela grow?

Characteristics of the environment necessary for the successful growth of weigela:

windless place;
fertile soil;
the shrub develops ideally in the sun or in light partial shade;
overmoistening is undesirable.

If these rules are followed, the plant achieves optimal growth, demonstrating decorative qualities.

Some weigels produce wide crowns, so it is permissible to do minor pruning of the shoots to give the plant the desired shape. Some varieties grow slowly - no more than 10 cm per year, others give abundant, rapid growth, due to which the plant matures in a short time.

Important! A shrub selected without taking into account local climatic conditions may die if extreme situations occur for the variety.

Varieties of weigela

There are eight common, non-hybrid varieties of weigela:

Weigela middendorffiana – blooms in spring and autumn with yellow flowers with spots of orange color. The height of the shrub is up to 1.5 m; it is planted singly, on lawns, under trees with sparse crowns.
Weigela japonica – plant no higher than 1 m. Leaves up to 10 cm long, slightly pubescent. In the middle zone, the crop needs shelter, but freezing is possible even after insulation.
Weigela suavis - a variety growing on the Kuril Islands, Primorye, and Sakhalin. Rarely cultivated. The flowers are pink-violet, pink inside. The height of the bush is 1.3 m.
Weigela praecox - common in North Korea, in the south of the Ussuri region, prefers rocky slopes. The flowers are bright pink, white with a yellow tint in the throat. It is recommended to plant in groups, singly on lawns, like a hedge.
Weigela coraeensis - a Korean shrub that can grow up to 5 m. For the winter, it is necessary to insulate the planting; the seeds do not ripen in the middle zone. The flowers reach 3.5 cm in length and are pink.
Weigela hortensis - A Japanese plant similar to the Korean variety. It is advisable to cover young specimens; adult bushes are frost-resistant.
Weigela maximowiczii – shrub no higher than 1.5 m, yellow, large flowers. Distributed in the middle zone, it begins to bloom in May.
Weigela florida – common in Europe, garden forms have colored foliage. Flowers are pink.

Important! There are many more varieties of weigela than varieties. This is a narrower concept. When choosing what to plant in your summer cottage, it is advisable to focus specifically on the variety.

Weigela varieties with photos, names and descriptions

A photo and name of weigela, with or without flowers, will help you choose the right variety or identify an existing one. Each group of varieties has its own characteristics. Thus, hybrids look more impressive, low-growing ones can be placed in flower beds, and winter-hardy ones do not need to be covered in the fall.

Low-growing varieties of weigela

Dwarf varieties of weigela do not exceed 1.5 m in height. Most often the bushes are even lower.

Minor Black

The height of the bush of representatives of this weigel variety is no more than 0.75 m, the maximum width is 1 m. The shoots are red-brown, the leaves are shiny, medium-sized, the same color as the shoots. Inflorescences appear in June, flowers are 2.5 cm in diameter, dark pink.

Monet (Verweig)

The height of the bush of this weigela variety never exceeds 0.5 m. The leaves make the plant particularly decorative. The leaf plate is painted in various shades - from green to red-pink. In summer, a white-pink border appears. In autumn the border darkens. Blooms with light pink flowers.

Nana Purpurea

The shrub never grows higher than 1 m. The leaves of weigela are dark red and medium-sized. Flowering begins in June. Inflorescences of various pink shades catch the eye against the background of red foliage. It is recommended to plant the variety singly (as a color accent).

Victoria

In all characteristics, this weigela is similar to Nana Purpurea - no higher than a meter, dark red crown, compact. The leaves are medium-sized, the inflorescences are pink, of various shades. The size of the flowers is proportional to the height of the bush - no more than 2–2.5 cm. It is permissible to plant weigels Victoria and Nana Purpurea in a group.

Important! Low-growing varieties are often not frost-resistant enough. Winter shelter is desirable, especially for varieties less than 1 m tall.

Frost-resistant weigela varieties

Winter-hardy weigela varieties do not require shelter during normal winters. Extremely cold weather with little snow is also tolerated well, but additional insulation may be required.

Alexandra

The shrub is 1.5 m high and has a spreading, wide crown. The foliage is either greenish-bronze or red-green. Blooms profusely, inflorescences are dark pink. An alternative name for weigela is "Wine and Roses" (wine and roses).

Brigela

Tall, fast-growing weigela. The maximum height of the bush is 2.3 meters. The leaves are colored green and have a yellow border. The flowers are dark pink, bell-shaped. Due to its height, it is recommended to plant this variety singly or in groups.

Purpurea

The plant is up to 1.5 m tall, the crown is dense, spreading, up to 2 m wide. The foliage changes color depending on the season. In spring, the leaves are red-brown, dark, then change color to a brown-green (red-green) shade. The flowers stand out strongly - bell-shaped, dark pink on the outside, light on the inside.

Rumba

A relatively short, winter-hardy variety, no higher than 1.3 m. The crown is dense and compact. This variety of weigela belongs to the varieties with dark leaves. Flowering is abundant, the flowers are tubular and deep pink. This variety is frost-resistant.

Important! Cold-resistant varieties of weigela are capable of bearing fruits in the middle zone, which ripen, but no matter how attractive they may be in the photo and description, the seed pods of the bush are not edible.

Varieties of hybrid weigela

Varieties of hybrid weigela (below in the photo) come in different frost resistance; the description must include an indication of how well the bush will withstand the winter.

Bristol Ruby

The largest among the hybrid varieties, up to 2.8 m high, the crown is spreading, with a diameter of up to 3.5 m. The shrub is classified as a fast-growing one. The bright green leaves are large, sometimes glossy. Flowering occurs in June, the inflorescences are ruby red. In winter, the ends of the branches often freeze slightly, but the plant quickly recovers.

Candida

A tall shrub (2 m) with a compact crown, no wider than 1.2 m. The foliage is light green in color. Flowering begins at the end of May, the flowers are bell-shaped, large, snow-white. The color of leaves and flowers remains unchanged. Weigela Candida is a frost-resistant variety that can overwinter in central Russia without shelter.

Eva Rathke

A low-growing (up to 1 m) bush, characterized by a wide, spreading crown. The growth rate is average. Bright green foliage contrasts with flowers - carmine red on the outside, light pink on the inside. The flower shape is tubular. Flowering is long, from June to mid-August. The variety has average winter hardiness.

Naomi Campbell

The bush belongs to dwarf weigela hybrids, its height is no more than 0.6 m. The crown is compact, equal to the height of the plant. The leaves are dark purple, bronze. Purple-red flowers appear in late May. The variety is winter-hardy. This hybrid can be planted in flower beds, borders, and flower beds.

Important! Minor sanitary and aesthetic trimming is acceptable, but it is advisable to keep the haircut to a minimum.

How to choose the right variety

The choice of flowering weigela or another variety should be made not according to the photo, but according to the description and individual characteristics of the planting site.

For the middle zone and northern regions, frost-resistant varieties are recommended. Heat-loving varieties do not survive the winter even with shelter.
For alpine hills, flower beds, and borders, it is better to choose the shortest varieties. The exception is complex multi-tiered compositions. In this case, a medium-sized shrub with a not very spreading crown is planted.
In dry climates, it is advisable to choose a shrub where watering is possible. Large specimens will require abundant, regular irrigation, especially varieties designed for central weather.
When you plan to plant weigela under windows, in a small front garden, you should choose a variety that will not grow higher than the window sill. The light-loving nature of the variety is also taken into account, as some cannot tolerate shade.

An additional important condition is the soil. If the site is located on sandy, clay soils, you should refrain from purchasing. The plant will either die or be constantly sick, which will affect its decorative qualities.

Important! If you have any doubts about the possibility of growing a certain variety, it is advisable to clarify the details with the seedling seller.

Conclusion

Photos and descriptions of the weigela shrub give a complete picture of the plant when it is necessary to decide whether it is worth growing it in personal plots. However, it is important to remember that proper care gives the bush a decorative appearance. Even a varietal specimen can become unattractive if ignored.