Content
Weigela Sunny Princess attracts attention thanks to the delicate, light tones of not only the flowers, but also the leaves. The plant is not capricious, although without care its decorativeness decreases. The shrub takes root well in the middle zone if you take care of shelter for the winter.
Description of blooming weigela Sunny Princess
A compact bush of a picturesque variety. The spherical dense crown of weigela Sunny Princess, similar to a light pink cloud during flowering, spreads in height and in diameter from 1 to 1.5 m. Strong shoots are straight, slightly drooping in the upper part. The root system is superficial, compact, requiring moderately moist and loose soil. The leathery leaves of weigela Sunny Princess, as seen in the photo, are oblong, ovoid, 4-8 cm long, with a sharp tip. The variety is distinguished by a yellowish border on the leaf blades, which gives the bush a special charm.Thanks to this coloring, Sunny Princess weigela remains decorative throughout the warm season, and in winter it captivates with the smooth curves of its shoots.
The shrub develops well in loose, fertile soils with sufficient moisture. Requires sunny exposure or openwork shade. Weigela is moisture-loving and withers away in severe drought. Frost resistance reaches -28 °C, young plants need shelter. Mature bushes tolerate winters in the middle zone in a cozy place protected from northern winds. After freezing, the plants recover due to new shoots. Weigela retains its decorative appearance for up to 30 years.
How weigela Sunny Princess blooms
The buds of the Sunny Princess variety begin to open by the end of May, but most often flowering occurs in June and July. The length of the tubular bells of weigela, slightly elongated in the narrow part, is from 4 to 5 cm. The flowers are light pink, of a delicate shade, the petals have a frame of a more intense tone. Weigela forms inflorescences of 3-7 elongated bells. The bush also pleases with its subtle fragrance. Abundant spring-summer flowering after appropriate pruning gives way to autumn, which begins at the end of August and lasts throughout September. Then an achene is formed - a box with small seeds that are viable for a short time.
Application in landscape design
The picturesque, shimmering combination of light green leaves and graceful buds place the Sunny Princess variety among the most decorative garden shrubs. Weigela enlivens any style of garden. Thanks to its picturesque leaves, the Solar Princess variety looks interesting even outside the flowering period. In autumn, the bush changes color to warm orange-reddish tones, and the graphics of smoothly curved shoots also catch the eye in winter.Gardeners use weigela according to their taste:
- decorating the lower part of buildings, fences, retaining walls;
- framing the garden area;
- creating a hedge;
- addition to a strict composition of coniferous shrubs;
- a spectacular tapeworm or group on the lawn.
The Sunny Princess variety harmoniously combines with low junipers, spireas, rhododendrons, and barberries. Irises, daylilies, hostas and other low-growing flowers are suitable as bottom padding.
Reproduction methods
According to reviews, Sunny Princess weigela is most often propagated by easy methods - cuttings and layering. In addition, sowing seeds and dividing a large bush are used. Cuttings are cut after flowering, selecting green young branches of 13-15 cm:
- put into a growth stimulator according to the instructions;
- planted diagonally in a substrate of sand and peat, deepening it by 1-2 cm;
- The container is covered with film.
The container is opened daily and the cuttings are sprayed with warm water. Rooting occurs after 1.5-2 months. Plants are planted in a permanent location next spring.
For layering, select a lower branch, which is placed in a groove and secured with a garden staple. The shoots are planted after a year. The fastest way to get flowering weigela is to divide the roots of an adult plant. The disadvantage of propagation by seeds is that varietal characteristics may not develop in seedlings.
Planting and caring for weigela Sunny Princess
Good development of the shrub and abundant flowering depend on the correct location and timing of planting.
Recommended timing
In the middle zone, weigela is planted in the spring - in March, early April. Over the summer, the bush will take root and survive the winter without pain. October is suitable for the southern regions.
Site selection and soil preparation
Planting and caring for flowering weigela Sunny Princess will be less hassle if the location is initially chosen correctly:
- windless;
- sunny;
- not in the lowlands;
- with breathable, drained and fertile soil.
How to plant correctly
A seedling with an open root system is soaked before planting for 3-6 hours in water with the addition of a growth stimulator according to the instructions. Weigela in containers is well watered or the pot is placed in a large container so that the substrate is moistened and the roots are not damaged. The planting pit should be twice the volume of the container: 50-60 cm deep, with the same diameter:
- drainage up to 10-15 cm high;
- the fertile substrate is made up of equal parts of garden soil and humus, half of sand for looseness and complex fertilizer;
- the weigela seedling is placed so that the root collar is at ground level or slightly buried, up to 1-2 cm;
- The bush is watered after compacting the substrate, and the tree trunk circle is mulched.
Growing rules
The moisture-loving weigela Solar Princess needs to be provided with regular moistening and loosening of the soil.
Watering
Weigela needs abundant watering - at least a bucket of water per week in the spring, before flowering and in the hot summer. It is better to water in large quantities, but so that the moisture reaches all the roots.
Top dressing
In spring, weigela can be conveniently fed with any complex fertilizers containing three main microelements. Preparations for flowering shrubs are also used.The granules are scattered around the perimeter of the tree trunk or diluted in water, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. After fertilizing, weigela is watered abundantly. The same fertilizing of weigela is given at the end of spring, during the formation of buds. Phosphorus-potassium products are applied in August.
Loosening, mulching
After watering the weigela, the soil is loosened to a depth of 6-8 cm. Mulching will ensure soil breathability in all weather conditions. Peat, bark, sawdust, and dry grass without seeds are used as raw materials.
Pruning, crown formation
A lush bush of weigela blooming Sunny Princess, as in the photo, is created by constant annual pruning:
- sanitary cleaning and correction of the shape of the plant is carried out in early spring by removing damaged, thickening or protruding shoots;
- in July, after the first wave of flowering, cut off the old weigela shoots by a third;
- when pruning, choose the point where a large external bud or young shoot is located;
- individual young powerful branches are cut in half, forming a lush bush;
- after 2-3 years, rejuvenating pruning of old branches is carried out at ground level.
Preparing for winter
The variegated weigela variety Sunny Princess is moderately winter-hardy. In late autumn, lay a thick layer of mulch. The plant is covered for the winter with agrofibre or mats made of natural materials, bending branches or arranging a high frame. The cover is not removed in early spring, only raising the edge for ventilation. After frost, it is better to shade weigela branches from bright rays.
Pests and diseases
If weigela Sunny Princess is planted in a place according to the recommendations, the plant is strong and develops well, and is little susceptible to diseases. If the bush is thickened, fungal infections may occur.Fungicides or Bordeaux mixture are used for treatment. Weigela is plagued by aphids, which are eliminated by spraying with soap or soda solution. Sometimes spider mites appear, against which acaricides are purchased. Caterpillars of various pests die after treatment with insecticides.
Conclusion
Weigela Sunny Princess will delight you with its exquisite flowering and original variegated leaves if the planting site is correctly chosen. Care includes maintaining sufficient soil moisture for the shallow root system and systematic pruning. With winter shelter, the plant develops well in the northern regions of the middle zone.
