Growing Weigela

PRONUNCIATION: wye-jee'luh    

Weigela has a round, mounded growth habit and flowers mid-May into June.  Flowers are rather tubular in form, in small clusters. Weigela will sometimes throw off a few flowers on and off all summer, up until frost. Growth rate is moderate: 12–24″ per year depending upon conditions.

CULTURE: Grow Weigela in full sun to partial shade and average garden soil with good drainage. Space 24–30″ apart. Fertilize just once, in early spring, with 5-10-5 or 5-10-10. Weigelas blooms on prior year's growth, so remove any dead or weak twigs in early spring, and prune after bloom if plant needs a bit of shaping.

PROBLEMS: Few problems with insects or diseases.

SUGGESTED USE: Front of the perennial or shrub border, foundation planting, along pathways. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.