Weigela praecox
Early-blooming weigela · Old-fashioned weigela · Weigelia
Description
Source: wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Weigela florida, the old-fashioned weigela, is a species of flowering plant in the family Caprifoliaceae. It is native to Inner Mongolia, Manchuria, northern and south-central China, Primorsky Krai in the Russian Far East, the Korean Peninsula, and Kyushu in Japan, and it has been introduced to Bulgaria, Great Britain, Ireland, the United States, and Uzbekistan. A deciduous shrub reaching 2.5 m (8 ft), it is typically found in scrublands and mixed evergreen/deciduous forests, at elevations from 100 to 1,500 m above sea level. Recommended for screens and hedges, and attractive to hummingbirds, it is cold hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8, and requires full sun.
🌳 Weigela is well-known for its ornamental beauty, but the remarkable properties of its nectar are less widely recognized. Attracted by the nectar’s distinct flavor, certain bird and butterfly species visit weigela, making it a popular choice for attracting wildlife and promoting ecological diversity. The pigments in the flowers also hold untapped potential as a natural dye, which is useful in an age when synthetic colorants are met with health-related skepticism.
🎭 Promising future, radiance, loveliness
Care Guide
💧 Water
☀️ Light Full sun
Weigela performs best in locations with long periods of daylight. Although it can tolerate somewhat reduced light, it grows and blooms most successfully when bathed in abundant sunlight. Strong exposure to sunlight ensures vigorous growth, while lesser light can impair its health and flower production.
🌡️ Temperature 5–35°C
Weigela thrives in temperate climates and does best at temperatures from 41 to 95 ℉ (5 to 35 ℃). To help the plant adjust to seasonal shifts, gradually change the temperature during transition periods.
💨 Humidity
🪴 Soil 5-7
🌱 Fertilizer
Timing matters when fertilizing Weigela. Apply fertilizer in early spring and continue once a month until early summer. Fertilizer encourages beautiful blooms and supplies energy during both dormant and active growth periods.
🪴 Pot & Repot 2-3 years
When repotting Weigela, select a pot 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) larger that provides ample drainage. Use a well-draining potting mix. Repot in spring or fall, making sure the root ball sits slightly below the rim of the flower pot. Water thoroughly after repotting and place the plant in a warm spot with indirect sunlight.
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity
Characteristics
- Plant Type
- Shrub
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Genus
- Weigela
- Family
- Caprifoliaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 4-9
- Mature Height
- 2.13 m to 3.96 m
- Mature Spread
- 0.91 m to 3.05 m
- Leaf Color
- Green, Yellow, White, Variegated
- Leaf Type
- Deciduous
- Flower Color
- Pink, Red, White
- Flower Size
- 2.03 cm
- Bloom Time
- Late spring, Early summer
- Planting Time
- Spring, Autumn
- Harvest Time
- Mid summer
- Native Area
- Koppen, Japan, South Korea, China