Content
Weigela belongs to the Honeysuckle family, grows throughout the European part of Russia, and is found in the Caucasus. The culture is represented by numerous varieties with different colors of flowers, leaves and bush shapes. Weigela Alexandra is a flowering representative of the species, winner of the silver and gold medal of the Dutch and American Garden Society. The plant is grown in temperate climates and in the South and is used for landscape decoration.
Description of Weigela Alexander
Weigela Alexandra is a deciduous, winter-hardy shrub, reaching a height of 1.2 m, crown volume - 1.5 m. The main growth occurs in the first two years of life and is 20-25 cm, then growth slows down. At the age of five years, weigela is considered an adult; its dimensions no longer change. The culture is perennial, biological life expectancy is 35-40 years.Drought resistance is average, periodic watering is required.
External characteristics of weigela variety Alexandra:
- The shrub has a round shape, a compact crown, formed from numerous shoots. The stems are erect, dark brown in color.
- The foliage of Alexander weigela is intense; before and after flowering, the unusual color of the leaves makes the crop decorative. The leaves are lanceolate, oppositely located, length - up to 9 cm, width - 3-4 cm. The leaf blade has finely toothed edges, smooth, matte. The color is dark burgundy with beige streaks. In the shade the color is closer to brown, with sufficient lighting there is a purple tint in the color of the leaves, and yellow in the fall. The leaves are formed without petioles and do not fall off until frost sets in.
- The root system is of a mixed type, not deepened, overgrown.
- The seed pods are dark gray, small, contain 2 seeds, and ripen in September.
The seeds are equipped with a lionfish, scatter not far from the mother bush, and germinate the next year.
How weigela Alexandra blooms
The flowering period of Weigela Alexandra is long, lasting about 40 days. The buds are large (4 cm), formed in mid-May on last year's shoots, and bloom in early June. Flowering continues until mid-July.
After flowering, it is recommended to cut off the tops of last year’s stems by 40 cm. After 14 days, approximately at the beginning of August, Alexandra weigela will bloom a second time. Buds form on young shoots. The peculiarity of the variety is that the second wave of flowering is not much different from the first.
The flowers of Weigela Alexandra are large, funnel-shaped, tubular.Externally, they resemble a bell in shape. The color is dark pink. Lighter at first, darkens towards the middle of active flowering. The bush produces single flowers and inflorescences of 3-5 pieces, formed in the leaf axils. In partial shade, flowering is abundant, but the flowers are smaller than in areas exposed to the sun.
Application in landscape design
Weigela Alexandra is one of the popular and fairly common varieties in landscape design. The shrub retains its decorative properties from the appearance of the first leaves until they fall. The crown is compact, dense, takes up little space on the site, and lends itself well to molding. The plant is used for landscaping urban neighborhoods, public places and recreation areas. The shrub serves as decoration for personal plots and gardens.
Several examples with photos of the use of blooming weigela Alexandra in landscape design are presented below.
- To create a central color accent in plantings with ornamental perennials and flowering plants.
- As a tapeworm for lawn decoration.
- On the edge near tall trees and bushes.
- On the sides of the garden path.
- Weigela Alexandra is ideal for creating a hedge.
- In the center of the flowerbed near the wall of the building.
- In a composition with coniferous trees and dwarf shrubs.
- For decorating the banks of an artificial reservoir.
Weigela Alexandra is combined with all types of plants, if their proximity does not affect the development of the shrub. Do not plant the crop near large trees with a dense crown. In the shade, weigela loses its decorative effect.
How does Weigela Alexandra reproduce?
Weigela Alexandra, like any shrub, is bred generatively and vegetatively. This is a variety, not a hybrid, so the seeds retain 100% of the characteristics of the parent plant.Planting material is collected at the end of September. Sow seeds in spring in warm soil. The next spring they are planted in a permanent place, after 3 years the plant blooms. The breeding method is reliable, the seeds germinate well, but the process takes a long time before flowering.
Gardeners use faster and no less productive methods of propagation:
- Dividing the bush. Plants no younger than 3 years old are suitable for this purpose. Weigela is planted in the spring, and by autumn the culture has completely adapted to its new location.
- By layering. In the spring, the lower perennial shoot is fixed to the ground and covered with soil on top. Water constantly until autumn. In the spring, the cuttings will sprout, they are separated and planted. Next summer the Alexandra variety will bloom.
- Cuttings. Cut material from last year's shoots. After flowering, the tops are cut off, at which time cuttings 20 cm long are prepared. They are taken from the middle part. Placed in the ground, creating a greenhouse effect. In spring, the rooted material is planted in a permanent place.
The plant will bloom in the third year after transplantation.
Planting and caring for weigela Alexandra
In planting and subsequent care, flowering weigela Alexandra is absolutely not a problem plant. The variety has good survival rate, standard agricultural technology. The culture tolerates temperatures down to -35 without loss 0C. Quietly responds to formative pruning.
Recommended timing
In regions with a temperate climate, weigela varieties Alexandra are planted in early spring, around the end of April. The soil temperature should not be lower than +70 C.Autumn planting is not recommended, the plant will not have time to fully take root before the onset of frost, and by spring the seedling may die. In areas with a warm climate, planting work is carried out in the spring (early April) or autumn (late September).
Site selection and soil preparation
Weigela Alexandra is a light-loving plant; the decorative effect of the crown will be complete only with sufficient lighting. For planting, choose an open area protected from the north wind. The southern or eastern side of the slope is suitable. The plant feels comfortable behind the wall of a building and near ornamental shrubs that do not shade the weigela.
The shrub requires moderate watering, but constantly waterlogged soil can cause fungal diseases. The site for Alexander's weigela is chosen without nearby groundwater, and it should not be in a lowland. The soil should be light, fertile with satisfactory drainage, and the composition should be slightly alkaline or neutral. The site is dug up 2 weeks before planting, organic fertilizer and superphosphate are added. If necessary, the acidic composition is neutralized with products containing alkali.
How to plant correctly
Before planting, prepare a fertile mixture consisting of a turf layer, compost, and sand (in equal parts). For 10 kg of soil add 200 g of mineral fertilizers and 0.5 kg of ash.
Planting weigela Alexandra:
- Prepare a landing hole with a depth of 70 cm and a diameter of 50*50 cm.
- Medium-fraction gravel or broken bricks are placed at the bottom. The layer must be at least 15 cm.
- The next layer is a nutrient mixture (25 cm).
- The seedling is placed in the center of the hole, covered with the remains of the prepared soil on top.
- The planting hole is filled to the top with soil.
- The tree trunk circle is compacted, watered, and mulched.
Growing rules
If you follow the recommendations for planting and care, Alexandra weigela retains its decorative appearance throughout the spring and autumn period.
Watering
The frequency of watering depends on precipitation; if the indicator is normal, the adult Alexandra weigela is not watered. In the dry season, the shrub is watered abundantly during the formation of buds. The following procedure is indicated for the main flowering. In autumn, moisture-recharging irrigation is carried out. Young seedlings are watered more often; the main task is to prevent the root ball from drying out.
Top dressing
Every year in early spring, potassium fertilizers are applied to the adult weigela Alexandra and urea is scattered around the bush. At the beginning of flowering, feed with superphosphate. At the end of August, water with a concentrated solution of organic matter. Young seedlings under 3 years of age do not need to be fertilized; they only need the nutrients added during planting.
Loosening, mulching
A weigela seedling develops a root system in the first two years, at which time the soil should be light and well enriched with oxygen. Loosening of the tree trunk circle is carried out after each watering, and at the same time weeds are removed.
After planting, Alexander's weigela is mulched with sawdust mixed with peat, crushed tree bark or crushed pine cones. The covering material retains moisture, protects the root system from overheating, and reduces the growth of weeds. In the fall, the mulch layer is increased with straw or pine needles, and in the spring it is completely renewed. Weigele mulching is carried out throughout the entire biological cycle.
Pruning, crown formation
The first pruning of Alexander weigele is carried out in the second year of growth in early spring (before sap flow). Leave two full-fledged buds from the root, remove the rest of the stems, the length of the shoots will be about 10-15 cm. Over the summer, weigela will produce young shoots from the buds. If the bush is not thick enough, the procedure is repeated next spring.
For an adult plant, crown molding is done after flowering. The upper part of last year's shoots is removed by 1/3. After 5 years of growing season, the shrub is rejuvenated, old trunks are cut out near the root, and by autumn the weigela will form a replacement.
Every year in the spring, cosmetic pruning is carried out, weak, twisted and dry stems that have frozen over the winter are removed. The bush is thinned out for better air circulation, and some of last year's shoots are cut off.
Preparing for winter
Weigela Alexandra needs shelter for the winter up to the age of five. Preparatory activities:
- Young seedlings are spudded.
- Increase the layer of mulch.
- The branches are tied into a bundle.
- Bend it to the ground and fix it.
- Install arcs with covering material.
- Cover the top with spruce branches.
Pests and diseases
Weigela variety Alexandra has average immunity to infection and pests. With constantly high soil moisture, signs of rot appear on the root system. Bacterial contamination is eliminated with the drug “Topsin”; in the spring, for preventive purposes, weigela is treated with copper sulfate. Often the plant is affected by rust; Bordeaux mixture is effective in combating fungal infection.
The bushes are parasitized by:
- Spider mite, he is eliminated with Keltan.
- Aphid, “Rogor” is used in the fight against it.
- Thrips and caterpillars, eliminated with “Nitrophen” or “Aktara”.
In the spring, in order to prevent mole crickets and cockchafer larvae, a solution of Karbofos is applied to the root. Flowering repellent crops are planted nearby near the bushes. For example, calendula, tansy, pelargonium or pyrethrum. These plants repel insects with their scent.
Conclusion
Weigela Alexandra is a deciduous ornamental shrub, popular among professional designers and amateur gardeners. The crop is used for landscaping parks, garden plots or summer cottages. High frost resistance allows the shrub to be grown in European and Central Russia.
