Weigela - Apple Blossom
Weigelas are often called flowering apple blossoms because of their extremely free flowering in spring and their adaptability to a wide range of garden conditions. The trumpet shaped flowers have a wide open mouth showing of some detailed marking inside the flower. Usually the flowers are up to 35 mm long and about 25 mm wide. Colours vary from pure white to dark rosy pinks and deep reds. They grow up to 2 metres high.
The genus Weigela was named for Christian Ehrenfried von Weigel (1748-1831) a German professor at Greifswald in North Germany. There are about 10 species of shrubs from eastern Asia in the genus. All are deciduous and easily grown.
Belonging to the Caprifoliaceae family Weigelas were previously included in a larger closely related genus Diervilla but botanists agreed they were a separate genus.
The Chinese species are all attractive and many have been hybridised to produce a range of improved hybrids and cultivars to such an extent there are few wild or original plants left. Assigning species names to the cultivars has been difficult and often these are now left out of the name as it can be confusing for gardeners.
In the UK the National Collection of Weigelas is held at the Sheffield Botanical Gardens and is managed by volunteers under the direction of the Gardens staff. The national collection of Diervilla is also kept here.
A website explaining the collection and its taxonomy (naming system) is useful and has photographs of the species, cultivars and hybrids.
http://www.fobssheffield.co.uk/weigelas.html#group3
Weigelas are a lovely hardy plant that grows well in most soils and produce a wonderful and colourful display in late spring and early summer.
They are easy care and do not seem to suffer from any pest or disease.
Regular pruning out of old wood after flowering in late spring will keep them vigorous and healthy. To control their size reduce the stems back by about one third to create the right shape.
If it is an older bush and needs rejuvenation then remove up to one third of the older woodier and thicker branches to encourage new stems to grow from the base. This is the best option to keep it looking good all the time. If the bush really is in complete need of regeneration they can have all their branches removed down to just above ground level and it will regenerate over two years.
Further information on pruning can be found here
Photographs can be found of Weigelas on Pinterest Weigelas
The genus Weigela was named for Christian Ehrenfried von Weigel (1748-1831) a German professor at Greifswald in North Germany. There are about 10 species of shrubs from eastern Asia in the genus. All are deciduous and easily grown.
Belonging to the Caprifoliaceae family Weigelas were previously included in a larger closely related genus Diervilla but botanists agreed they were a separate genus.
The Chinese species are all attractive and many have been hybridised to produce a range of improved hybrids and cultivars to such an extent there are few wild or original plants left. Assigning species names to the cultivars has been difficult and often these are now left out of the name as it can be confusing for gardeners.
In the UK the National Collection of Weigelas is held at the Sheffield Botanical Gardens and is managed by volunteers under the direction of the Gardens staff. The national collection of Diervilla is also kept here.
A website explaining the collection and its taxonomy (naming system) is useful and has photographs of the species, cultivars and hybrids.
http://www.fobssheffield.co.uk/weigelas.html#group3
Weigelas are a lovely hardy plant that grows well in most soils and produce a wonderful and colourful display in late spring and early summer.
They are easy care and do not seem to suffer from any pest or disease.
Regular pruning out of old wood after flowering in late spring will keep them vigorous and healthy. To control their size reduce the stems back by about one third to create the right shape.
If it is an older bush and needs rejuvenation then remove up to one third of the older woodier and thicker branches to encourage new stems to grow from the base. This is the best option to keep it looking good all the time. If the bush really is in complete need of regeneration they can have all their branches removed down to just above ground level and it will regenerate over two years.
Further information on pruning can be found here
Photographs can be found of Weigelas on Pinterest Weigelas