Flower of the Week: Old Fashion Weigela

Weigela is a deciduous shrub with arching stems covered in bell-shape flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer. Weigela is a traditional favorite for mixed shrub borders and backgrounds.

The following post was submitted by Maggie Wiles of . 

Some of the newer cultivars will also re-bloom during the summer. There are also numerous new varieties that flaunt flashy foliage in shades of gold, green, white, and rose for a season-long spectacle. Sizes range from vigorous six-foot shrubs to very compact varieties well suited to mingling with perennials.  

The tubular flowers are a treat for hummingbirds and butterflies.

The first species to be collected for Western gardens, Weigela florida, distributed in North China, Korea and Manchuria, was imported to England in 1845. Following the opening of Japan to westerners, several Weigela species and garden versions were "discovered" by European plant-hunters in the 1850s and 1860s.

Weigela grows best in full sun to light shaded areas and generally appreciates a fertile, well-drained soil with adequate water, but will also tolerate drier soils. 

Weigela is a very hardy, low maintenance plant that has few pests to contend with and is tolerant of urban settings. For gardeners of every level, this is a great choice, especially some of the newer varieties: wine and roses, ghost and rubidor.