Content
Weigela Victoria is a selective species created for cultivation in gardens, on personal plots, and for landscaping the urban landscape. The ornamental shrub is found in Primorye, the Far East, and Altai. Grows in undergrowth, on rocky slopes, along the banks of reservoirs. Wild species have given rise to numerous hybrids.
Description of Weigela Victoria
Weigela Victoria is a low-growing, spreading shrub 1-1.2 m high. The plant is perennial, deciduous, with an unusual leaf color and abundant, long-lasting flowering. The beautiful flowering shrub grows slowly, the annual growth is no more than 15 cm. Winter-hardy weigela Victoria tolerates temperatures down to -30 0C, this feature allows you to grow shrubs almost throughout Russia.Drought resistance is average, the plant requires periodic watering, but weigela Victoria does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. The crop is used for landscape design of gardens, urban recreation areas, and personal plots.
External description of blooming weigela Victoria:
- The shape of the crown is spherical, the diameter is about 1.5 m. The shrub is branched, densely leafy, the central shoots are erect, the lateral shoots are horizontal from the base with raised tops. Perennial stems are gray, young shoots are light brown.
- Weigela Victoria leaves are opposite, lanceolate, with sharp ends and finely toothed edges. The color is dark burgundy, closer to brown or dark green, the color depends on the lighting of the place of growth. The leaf plate has a smooth matte surface, the veins are presented in the form of a large beige mesh. There are no petioles. The exotic coloring of the leaves is considered part of the decorative effect of Victoria weigela. The foliage stays on the branches for a long time, not falling until the first snow.
- The root system is developed, located close to the surface, overgrown, and does not respond to soil compaction.
- The seeds of the crop are small, equipped with a lionfish, formed in small quantities, and ripen by autumn.
Weigela Victoria is a perennial plant, the biological cycle is 25-30 years. It blooms in the fourth year of vegetation, reaching the end point of growth by six years.
How weigela Florida Victoria blooms
Weigela Victoria is a crop with an average flowering period. Buds form on the stems of the previous year in the second half of May, and a week later the flowers bloom simultaneously. The period is long, the main peak occurs in June-July.Subsequent flowering on young shoots until September is not abundant, the flowers are smaller.
Characteristics of weigela Victoria flowers:
- bell-shaped;
- length – 4 cm;
- collected in inflorescences of 3-5 pieces;
- inside painted light pink;
- the surface is purple or dark pink with a red tint.
The photo shows weigela Victoria during the period of active flowering.
In the shade, the leaves are dull, the flowers are smaller, the color is pale.
The use of weigela Victoria in landscape design
Throughout the spring and autumn season, Victoria weigela remains decorative. Thanks to the color of the leaves, the plant looks colorful even when flowering has not begun or has already ended. Weigela complements any composition and is widely used for landscape design by professional designers and amateur gardeners. Weigela Victoria tolerates planting well and requires little care; photos and design options using the hybrid are presented below:
- Mass planting to create a hedge.
- Decorative design of the foreground of the flower bed.
- Composition with herbaceous plants and low-growing shrubs.
- Weigela is often used as a tapeworm against the wall of a building.
- The culture looks good as a central element with dwarf conifers.
- In a group with flowering shrubs.
Weigela Victoria not only goes well with different types of plants, but also gets along well with them. Victoria practically does not get sick, so she is not a source of infection, and is rarely affected by pests that can spread to neighbors in the flowerbed.
How does weigela Victoria reproduce?
Victoria can be propagated on a site in several ways: generatively and vegetatively. The first method is rarely used, the hybrid produces seeds, but out of a large number of seedlings, only 10% can be obtained weigela with the characteristics of the mother plant, the remaining seedlings will produce a wild-growing species.
To preserve the external characteristics, weigela Victoria is bred by cuttings or layering. Cuttings are the most productive and least labor-intensive method. The material is cut from last year's stems or young shoots. Cuttings from woody stems are taken in early spring before the buds swell. Material is taken from the shoots of the current year in July, after the completion of the main flowering:
- Cuttings are taken from the middle part of the stem. The required size is 15-25 cm.
- Place in a container with nutrient soil mixture.
- For the winter, the container is placed in the basement.
- In the spring, when there is no threat of frost, they are taken out to the site.
A longer, but no less productive way to propagate Victoria weigela is by layering. In spring, the lower branch is bent to the ground, secured, and sprinkled with soil. Next year, sprouts will appear in the spring. Plots can be planted on the site after three years of growth.
Planting and caring for weigela Victoria
The ease of planting and subsequent care of flowering weigela Victoria is one of the important advantages of the culture. Compliance with certain conditions will allow you to grow ornamental shrubs on the site.
Recommended timing
The frost resistance of hybrids is significantly lower than that of cultivars; weigela Victoria is no exception. A bush planted in the fall, even with high-quality shelter, will die in the winter.Planting is carried out in the spring before the buds swell, at a soil temperature not lower than +7 0C. In the middle zone, returning frosts are a common occurrence, so the young weigela seedling is covered at night until the temperature returns to normal.
Site selection and soil preparation
Weigela Victoria will be a fully decorative and profusely flowering plant only in an open area. The light-loving plant does not develop well even with slight shading. The influence of the north wind slows down the growing season. The optimal place is the southern or eastern side of the slope. If a flat area is chosen, it should be protected from drafts. A site in a lowland or with close groundwater is not allowed. Stagnation of moisture can lead to the death of the seedling.
The soil is neutral or slightly alkaline, light, fertile, drained. Loam or sandy loam soil is suitable. Before planting, dig up the area, add compost, dolomite flour or any product containing alkali.
How to plant correctly
Before planting, the root of the weigela Victoria seedling is placed in a growth-stimulating preparation for 5 hours. During this time, a soil mixture is prepared from peat, sand, organic matter and soil from the planting site in equal proportions. Add ash and superphosphate.
Sequence of action:
- They dig a hole with a diameter of 50 cm and a depth of 70 cm. The parameters are average, the main condition is that there should be a space of 10-15 cm from the root to the edge of the recess.
- A layer of expanded clay gravel (10 cm) is poured onto the bottom; it can be replaced with crushed stone or small stones. On top is a layer of prepared soil mixture.
- The seedling is placed in the center, covered with nutritious soil, and the root collar is left above the surface (5 cm).
- The circle around the trunk is compacted, watered abundantly, and mulched.
When placed close together, plants become intertwined with branches, shrubs grow worse, and the design element looks untidy.
Growing rules
Caring for weigela Victoria is standard; compliance with certain rules of agricultural technology will guarantee long flowering and rich leaf color.
Watering
For normal growth, young seedlings require periodic watering at least twice a week. The soil should not be allowed to dry out; 6 liters per bush will be enough. If the summer is not dry and precipitation is normal, weigela is not watered. An adult plant is watered once at the beginning of budding and twice during the main flowering with plenty of water. At the end of August, watering is stopped.
Top dressing
If the planting technology is followed, the microelements and nutrients added to the soil are sufficient for 3 years of growing season. Subsequently, the plant is fed in early spring with complex mineral fertilizers. At the beginning of flowering, phosphorus and potassium-containing agents are given. In autumn, the root circle is covered with ash.
Loosening, mulching
Frequent loosening is important for young weigela Victoria seedlings. In the first years, the plant forms a root system, therefore ensuring an unhindered supply of oxygen. Weeds are removed as necessary. Loosening is carried out no deeper than 8 cm. For adult weigele, the soil around the tree trunk is dug up in spring and autumn. The crown of Weigela Victoria is dense, the lower stems are located near the ground, and weeds do not grow under the crop.
Victoria weigela is mulched immediately after planting with a mixture of peat and sawdust, and crushed tree bark is covered on top for decoration purposes. In autumn, the covering layer is increased with straw or pine needles.In the spring, the mulch is renewed, the procedure is carried out every year.
Pruning, crown formation
Weigela Victoria does not require formation, the crown of the crop is of a regular round shape, the branches do not grow chaotically and do not protrude beyond the visual framework. Every spring, health pruning is carried out, damaged and dry areas are removed. In autumn, the plant is thinned out, twisted and thin stems are cut off. The rejuvenation procedure is carried out once every 3 years. After abundant flowering, part of the old stems is removed, annual stems are cut off by 1/3. In a short period of time, weigela Victoria is restored and begins to bloom again.
Preparing for winter
Shelter for the winter is necessary for young weigela and adult shrubs, especially in temperate climates. Preparatory work:
- Weigela Victoria is watered abundantly.
- Spud up.
- The top of the embankment is mulched.
- The branches are collected in a bundle and fixed.
- Bend to the ground, covered with spruce branches or special material.
A continuous fence is placed in a circle, covered with dry leaves, and the structure is covered with spruce branches on top.
Pests and diseases
Weigela Victoria does not respond to prolonged air humidity and a decrease in night temperature, the plant is not affected by fungal and bacterial infections. The only problem is root rotting due to constant stagnation of water in the soil. Aphids rarely parasitize Victoria weigel; this usually happens if there is an anthill nearby. Pests are eliminated with the drug "Keltan".
Conclusion
Weigela Victoria is a perennial, low-growing shrub with dark burgundy leaves and bright purple flowers. A hybrid with high immunity to infection and garden pests, unpretentious in care, tolerates high air humidity and low temperatures.Weigela Victoria is used for landscape design of urban neighborhoods, personal plots, and gardens.
