Weigela in the pink for summer
As we head into early summer, look out for this delightful shrub. Weigela never fails to catch the eye of passers-by; it's one of those shrubs that you can't help stopping at to wonder what it is.
In late spring and early summer, Weigela produces a show of exquisite little bell or funnel-shaped flowers, the colour range goes from ruby red through to pink, there are also yellow and white options. The pinks are the real glory with this plant though, from strong to flushed, the colours are striking.
If you are interested in buying one of these versatile shrubs, here are a few options to look out for next time you are at your local garden centre.
Weigela 'Eva Rathke' is a popular favourite with dark green leaves providing a perfect backdrop to lush deep pink flowers and white stamens dotting the centre of the flower.
Weigela florida 'Foliis Purpureis' is a stylish option with its pink flowers pale on the inside of the bell and dark on the outside. Again 'Foliis Purpureis' has mid-green leaves providing the ideal background to show off its flowers to the best.
It works well in a shrub border with soft white flowers planted in front
Weigela florida 'Variegata' klein offers leaves edged in creamy yellow and soft white just-flushed-with-pink flowers.
These are stunning shrubs growing from 1.2m up to 2.5m tall and are great for a mixed or shrub border.
Weigela are wonderful for that forgotten corner that needs a good strong shrub to fill it and provide lots of colour and interest in early summer before the main summer display of flowers around the garden.
Plus Weigela is good for informal hedging. If you don't have time or don't particularly like tidy, trimmed hedges, then consider the more natural informal look that plants such as Weigela bring.
Most Weigela grow to between 1.2 to 2.5 metres wide – ample as part of an informal hedge. Not climbable and difficult to get through, they are quite intruder-proof.
Weigela are easy to look after – they will do best in any fertile, well-drained soil, they like sun or partial shade.
To make sure your flowers keep coming back, each year after flowering just cut back to a strong bud on the branches that have flowered.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
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Sunny spells
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