Introducing...
Weigela
Common name: Weigela
Flowering in late spring to early summer, weigelas are easy-to-grow deciduous shrubs that combine with evergreen shrubs to provide a backdrop to later-flowering plants. Their trumpet-like flowers mostly in whites, pinks, reds and purples but also yellow are popular with the bees.
Looks
Upright to spreading in habit, some weigelas reach up to 3m in height. Recent breeding has introduced some more compact cultivars with a height and spread of 1.5m (4-5ft) or below. Leaves are a matt green, but some are bronze, purple or variegated with cream edges. Trumpet-like flowers, produced in late spring to early summer, are white, pink, red or yellow, sometimes with speckled throats. These shrubs are deciduous, loosing their leaves in winter.
Likes
Weigelas are tolerant of many soil types and are happy in sun or light, dappled shade. Varieties with coloured or variegated leaves do need sufficient light to develop leaf colour but can scorch in hot sun.
Dislikes
For plants to thrive, avoid very dry or waterlogged soils. Also site out of full shade as this will affect flowering.
Did you know?
Sheffield Botanical Gardens hold a National Collection of Weigela. It shows their diveristy on its Friends' Twitter feed.
Growing guide
How to grow weigela
All the information you’ll need to grow and care for weigelas can be found in our RHS guide to shrubs.
Weigela we recommend
Weigela Ebony and Ivory ('Velda'PBR)
weigela [Ebony and Ivory]
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Weigela middendorffiana
Middendorf weigela
- 1–1.5 metres
- 1–1.5 metres
Weigela florida 'Alexandra'PBR
weigela 'Alexandra'
- 1.5–2.5 metres
- 1.5–2.5 metres
Weigela Ebony and Ivory ('Velda'PBR)
weigela [Ebony and Ivory]
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Weigela middendorffiana
Middendorf weigela
- 1–1.5 metres
- 1–1.5 metres
Weigela florida 'Alexandra'PBR
weigela 'Alexandra'
- 1.5–2.5 metres
- 1.5–2.5 metres
Useful advice
Buying: trees and shrubs
Shrubs: larger for year round interest
Shrubs: pruning early-flowering
Shrubs: smaller for year round interest
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.