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The
Opinions Of A Reformed Plant Snob. By Tim Wood All rights reserved © Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc.
When I got back
into the nursery business some 15 years ago I was utterly surprised by the
types of plant varieties being grown and sold. Having spent the early part of my
career managing botanical garden What surprised me most upon my return was the great quantity of Weigela that was being grown and sold. In our fields, I came face to face with tens of thousands of Weigela, to be sold and shipped across the United States and Canada. How could it be? My perception of Weigela did not warrant this level of production. Could it be that my opinion had been tainted by the bias of my college instructors? I was taught that Weigela was a one dimensional plant, once popular, but now a horticultural relic surpassed by better, multi-seasonal shrubs. Perhaps, was my perception was wrong. Over the last few years I have come to appreciate this interesting, diverse and useful genus. When faced with a mature specimen of Weigela in full bloom, only the brain dead, or the truly devoted plant snob can look at this plant and fail to see its remarkable beauty. Still, serious "plants people" fail to give Weigela respect. As a reformed plant snob myself, I too found myself falling into the old mental trap, that a truly "good" plant must be obscure, difficult to grow, and impossible to propagate. Now, here's this shrub, Weigela, that's easy to propagate, easy to grow and sells by the millions. Can it be as commendable and as worthy as Chionanthus or Corylopsis? O.K. fellow plant snobs, we can kick this affliction if we just concentrate on the merits of the plant. Let's take a closer look. There are roughly ten species of Weigela, all of which are shrubs native to temperate East Asia, specifically Japan, Korea, and Northern China The most common, and most ornamental species is Weigela florida, a rounded to arching shrub that typically grows to 6 to 8 feet tall. The species and its hybrids account for nearly all of the numerous Weigela cultivars. A few of the hybrids are have Weigela praecox blood which has resulted in earlier blooming cultivars that tend to be slightly less hardy. Weigela florida is prized primarily for the funnel-shaped flowers that engulf the plant from May to June; Weigela is a blooming machine. Many of the newer cultivars have the added benefit of reblooming during the summer. Depending upon the cultivar, the flower color may be pink, red, white, peach, lavender, and nearly every shade and hue in between. Several other species exhibit yellow flowers. Hummingbirds adore Weigela flowers, particularly those with red or pink flowers. In addition to flowers, there are numerous cultivars that have attractive colorful foliage. This foliage provides season-long interest and sales after the blooms have faded. Selections have been made for leaf colors such as bright yellow, copper, burgundy, near black, and of course, variegated forms. Colorful foliage has made Weigela a season-long ornamental plant with excellent commercial value. In a recent conversation with one of the top mail order companies, I was astounded to learn that Weigela florida 'Variegata' was the single best selling plant they have ever featured on their cover! One of the best features of Weigela, is that it's user friendly. Adaptable to many soil types, it's hardy to USDA zone 4 and has no serious pest problems. It's easy to propagate, easy to grow and presents itself well in a container. In a word, it's reliable! The only requirement of this plant is that it requires full sun to produce copious flowers. The problem with Weigela is deciding which cultivar to grow. With over 180 named cultivars choosing the best can be overwhelming. Relax, it's hard to go wrong any selection, but if it makes you feel better, I'll share my opinions and experience. Here are my favorite selections broken down by flower color and foliage color: The Best Cultivars by Flower Color When it comes to red flowered Weigela, 'Red Prince' is currently the clear choice. Developed at Iowa State University, this is a tough, hardy plant with dark, blood red flowers. 'Red Prince' has excellent reblooming qualities and the flowers hold up well. This full sized plant that has literally replaced all other reds from the market. 'White Knight' is another Iowa State hybrid. It has white flowers with the slightest touch of pink as they fade. Like 'Red Prince' it is extremely hardy. Without a doubt this is the best reblooming Weigela I've ever encountered. It's not uncommon to see 'White Knight' covered with blooms in late September. Although white flowers are not the most popular at retail, I really like this plant. Its white flowers stand out nicely against the dark green leaves. Now let's examine the best pink cultivars. In the late 1980's, a series of Weigela was developed by Felicitas Svejda of Ag-Canada. Bred for hardiness and compact growth, all were released and named for dance steps. All are good cultivars, but my favorite is 'Polka'. This is a compact, 3-5' plant with thick dark green foliage. Its flowers are a rich velvety two-toned pink with a yellow throat. If you desire a petite, pink flowered Weigela, then consider 'Minuet' which stays under 3' tall. This is a strong blooming plant with lavender pink blooms. Its a great for locations that require a smaller plant. As I mentioned earlier, there are yellow blooming species. Weigela maximowiczii and W. middendorfiana both have yellow flowers. I have only recently acquired both of these species and have not yet seen a strong bloom. For this reason I must withhold my opinions until I complete my evaluation. Dick Lighty of the Mt. Cuba Center recently introduced a yellow selection called 'Canary' that has been getting good reviews. The flowers open yellow and fade to pink. He classifies it as Weigela subsessilis. One of best new Weigela is a French introduction called Weigela 'Carnaval' (or 'Courtalor'). This plant puts on a remarkable floral display of pink, white and nearly red blooms. The effect is breathtaking. A close examination of the flowers reveals its tetraploid nature. Its flowers are extra thick, relatively large and the colors are vivid. The trumpet-like corolla is shallow and the lobes are turned out giving the flowers an azalea-like appearance. It is long blooming and produces no fruit capsules. Colorful Foliage Recently awarded the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society Gold Medal for the year 2000, Weigela WINE & ROSES(R) 'Alexandra is perhaps the most exciting new variety to hit the market in years. Herman Geers of the Netherlands hybridized this healthy growing form with large, glossy, dark burgundy-purple leaves. The foliage color is so appealing, its initial European success has been as a cut branch to the floral industry. Geers actually leases plants to cut growers who them sell branches at famous Alsmeer flower market. In the U.S., WINE & ROSES is being marketed as a landscape shrub. It has been getting excellent reviews from both growers and retailers. When compared to Weigela 'Java Red' the difference is remarkable. 'Java Red' has coffee brown colored leaves and pale pink flowers while WINE & ROSES has burgundy leaves and vivid deep pink flowers. It is substantial improvement in Weigela.
Weigela MIDNIGHT WINE™
'Elvera' is Herman Geers' newest weigela introduction and like WINE & ROSES
it has purple leaves and pink flowers. What makes this plant truly unique is
its dwarf mounded habit. While WINE & ROSES is full-sized Weigela, MIDNIGHT
WINE grows only 8 to 10 inches tall and a twice as wide. Its unique habit makes
it an excellent shrub for the front of the border and can easily be integrated
with perennials such as Artemesia 'Silver Mound'. (see
photo ). As a plant snob, I nearly always turn my nose up at yellow leafed plants, but I have been impressed with a new yellow leafed cultivar named Weigela 'Rubidor'. Recently introduced from France, 'Rubidor' has bright yellow leaves and dark red flowers, hence the name. I've been growing this shrub in a shaded spot under an oak tree and love the effect it gives. It lightens up this shady site and provides season long color. I have seen the plant perform well in full sun, but I expect that its leaves may suffer in full sun particularly in the south. With proper sighting and discretionary use, this is an excellent addition to the Weigela group. Currently, there is a craze for variegated plants, be it ugly or attractive. Weigela is one of the nicest variegated plants you can find. Weigela 'Variegata' has a wide creamy-yellow margin and light pink to nearly white flowers. It is the most commonly grown variegated selection, however there are better cultivars to be had. Unfortunately it lacks stem hardiness and is prone to tip dieback in colder climates. Weigela FRENCH LACE™ 'Brigela' is a new selection from Andre Briant of France released in the U.S. in the spring of 1999. Its leaves are an attractive combination of dark green with a thick, even lime green margin. Unlike 'Variegata', FRENCH LACE has large, deep scarlet red flowers and the overall effect is quite attractive. If it proves to be hardier than 'Variegata' it should be a big hit. Weigela 'Sunny Princess' is a new variegated selection of 'Pink Princess'. It has a thin yellow margin and bright pink flowers. Having Iowa State blood in it makes it a reliable variegated selection for colder regions where 'Variegata' has failed to perform.
A Plant Snob come to grips with Weigela The improvements in Weigela over the last twenty years have been substantial. Gains have been made in foliage color, plant habit, flowering and hardiness. This new breed is not your grandmother's Weigela, that had the reputation for being a one season plant. As a reformed plant snob I take one day at a time (Once a plant snob always a plant snob). Sure I have my relapses, but I seriously try to judge a plant on its merit and not it obscurity. The fact is - Weigela florida is more than just a spring splash of colorful blooms. Colorful foliage delivers season long interest and extended impulse sales at retail. It's reliable and has no pest problems. Still, the plant snob in me hates that it's so dependable and easy to grow. My goodness, you don't even need a tissue lab to propagate it! If it could only offer me the same "edge of the seat excitement" I get from Daphne 'Carol Mackie', knowing that it may die at any moment. Oh well, at least Weigela has merit! Did you enjoy this article? Interested in learning about cool new plants? Check out the PLANT HUNTER - Tim Wood's new plant blog. You can subscribe to the PLANT HUNTER and add it to your MyYahoo, Google, AOL page or add a Feeds to your browser by clicking one of the logos below! Anytime the blog is updated it will be available on your homepage with just a click of your mouse.
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Checklist of Weigela Cultivars currently in Nursery Production (US, Canada, Europe) Abel Carriere Large, bright rose carmine
red flowers, throat flecked with gold. Lemoine. Abel Carriere Golden No description found,
presumably a yellow leafed form of Abel Carriere Alexandra* See WINE & ROSES Argenteo-marginata See Variegata Aureovariegata See Variegata Avalanche (p) Early flowering, white
flowers fade to pink. Lemoine 1909 Avante-garde (p) Large pink flowers in large
horizontal clusters, Lemoine 1906 Ballet Medium shrub with dark
pinkish-red flowers, Boskoop Expt. St.1958 Boskoop Glory* Large, salmon pink flowers,
R. Ramp, Boskoop1954 Bouquet Rose (p) Large carmine pink flowers
with a yellow stripped throat, Lemoine 1899 Briant Rubidor* See 'Rubidor' Bristol Ruby* Large crimson red flowers, good hardiness, vigorous
upright growth, Bristol Nursery, 1941 Bristol Snowflake* A white flowered seedling of Bristol Ruby,good
hardiness and long blooming. Bristol Nursery, 1961 Candida Pure white flowers do not fade to pink, once
considered the best white but has now been replace by the hardier, longer
blooming 'White Knight'. Caricature No description found Carnaval* syn. 'Courtalor' Large, thick white, pink and
dark pink blooms, Tetraploid, from France Centennial Red flowers, robust growth. A hardy hybrid between 'Dropmore
Pink and 'Profusion' Concuerant (p) Large deep pink flowers up
to 2" long, spreading habit. Lemoine 1894 coraeensis* Flowers white, light pink or
carmine, Large shrub, Zone 6 of 7 Dame Blanche Flowers open white and fade
to pink giving a two-tone effect. By Lemione Dart's Colordream* Flowers cream and rose red Dropmore Pink Selected for hardiness by F. Skinner from seed
collected from northern Manchuria. Esperance (p) Large flowers white with a
salmon pink blush, early blooming, floriferous Eva Rathke* Flowers large, erect, crimson red, once considered
the best red, Rathke, Poland 1891 Eve Supreme* Improved Eva Rathke, large bright red flowers,
vigorous growth. Boskoop Expt. Station 1958 Evita* A dwarf plant with dark red
flowers, strong rebloomer, by Herman Geers Fairy See Feerie Feerie Purple-pink flowers, similar
to Floreal, Lemoine 1926 Fiesta 'Newport Red x 'Eva Rathke, vigorous, red flowers,
loose habit. From the Boskoop research station 1958 Fleur de Mai (p) Early and abundant pink and purple flowers having a
white & pink throat, greatly fading, Lemoine 1899 Folia Purpurea Listed in Hillier & Sons catalog in 1930, "A
slow growing compact shrub with bronze purple foliage and purple
flowers. Wyman describes "with purpleish green foliage, pink
flowers (not a very good color combination) but dwarf habit."
Sound's just like 'Java Red' Folis Purpureis* see Folia Purpurea above FRENCH LACE™* 'Brigela'
(ppaf) New, variegated, thick green leaves with uniform,
rich yellow margins and dark red flowers, leaf has a tint of red along
edge of margin. Andre Briant 1998. Gold Rush* A Dutch selection with a wide, irregular, lime-yellow
variegated edge, pink flowers Gustave Malet (c) Flowers large, pink-red,
long tubular, very floriferous. Billard 1868 hortensis 'Nivea' Large white flowers, zone 7 Java Red* Pale lavender pink flowers, deep green leaves with a
purple overcast, compact spreading habit The plant was named and first
listed by Beardslee Nursery of Ohio. It was first described as a selection
of var. atropurpurea with clear
pink flower clusters and red foliage. Jean's Gold *
(ppaf) A new selection from England with yellow green
foliage. A sport of 'Bristol Ruby'. Said to be resistant to leaf scorch.
Paul Zako 1988. Kosteriana Variegata* A Dutch variegated form. Margin is pronounced yellow
green, leaves are large. van Houtte 1971 Le Printemps' (p) Buds light carmine, flowers
pink, very floriferous. Lemione 1901 Looymansii Aurea Yellow Leafed with a thin red margin, foliage said to
fade and scorch in heat. Van Houtte 1876 Lucifer* syn. 'Courtared' Dark red flowers similar in color to 'Red Prince',
but thicker, a tetraploid from France. Majestueux Upright habit, tall, flowers
amaranth-red, anthers red, very floriferous maximiowiczi Yellowish green flowers,
similar to middendorffiana middendorffiana Flowers sulfur yellow,
better than maximiowiczi, very hardy. MIDNIGHT WINE™ 'Elvera'
(ppaf)* A new dwarf mounded plant 12-18" with near black
foliage in midsummer and small pink flowers.
A good foliage plant in the perennial border. Minuet* Dance series of Canada,
compact habit, lavender pink flowers Mme. Couturier Flowers yellowish-white
fading to bright pink. Billard 1868 Mont-Blanc Flowers very large, pure
white turning somewhat pink. Lemoine 1898 Nain Rouge* syn. 'Courtanin' A dwarf or compact plant
with red flowers. A tetraploid from France. Newport Red* Same as Vanicek OLYMPIADE™ 'Briant
Rubidor' See 'Rubidor' Perle Large milk white flowers
with light pink veins. Lemoine 1902. Pink Delight Deep pink flowers, said to
hold color and not fade. From Mission Gardens Pink Princess* A pink selection developed
by Iowa State University. Polka* Large pastel pink flowers,
improved hardiness, Canadian Dance series praecox (p) An early blooming species with, medium size upright
habit and purple-pink to carmine flowers, hairy leaves and calyx. Gracieux (p) Early blooming, light pink
flowers, Lemoine 1905 'Floreal' (p) Early blooming,
purplish-pink flowers, Lemoine 1908. Purpurea* According to
G. Krussmann, "Low, leaves deep brown-red; flowers dark pink,
very attractive. Found in Holland, cultivated since 1930."
Perhaps the same a ' Foliis Purpureeis' Red Prince* Dark red flowers, good
rebloomer, hardier than 'Vanicek' Rosabella 'Eva Rathke x 'Newport Red', Stiff open habit,
flowers large pink, wide opened, and a short tube. Boskoop Research
Station 1958 Rosea* A large pink flowered form
commonly sold in Europe. No reference found Rubidor* Bright yellow foliage and
dark red flowers Rubigold Most likely same as 'Rubidor' Ruby Queen (ppaf)* A dwarf, rounded shrub with dark red leaves and small
pink flowers, Developed by Herman Geers of the Netherlands. Especially
good as a foliage plant in the perennial garden. Not yet released in the
USA. Rumba* Numerous small purplish-red flowers, compact habit,
improved hardiness, Canadian Dance series Samba* Numerous small purplish-red flowers, compact habit,
improved hardiness, Canadian Dance series, new growth tinged copper Seduction (p) Bright carmine red flowers,
bud dark red. Lemoine 1908. Snowflake* See 'Bristol Snowflake' Stelzneri Flowers dark red turning purple-red in groups of
15-20. One of the most floriferous. Van Houtte 1861 Styriaca* Flowers carmine pink turning carmine red, low habit.
Klenert, Austria 1908. Subsellilis Canary Flowers open yellow and fade
to pink. Dick Lighty, Mt. Cuba Center Sunny Princess* A variegated sport of 'Pink Princess', Green leaves
with a thin yellow margin. Pink flowers. Not as dramatic as 'Variegata' Tango* Dark brown to burgundy foliage, purplish-pink
flowers, compact habit, good hardiness, Canadian Dance series Van Houttei Flowers carmine flushed with
pink. van Houtte 1861 Vanicek* (syn. Newport Red) Dark red flowers, full sized plant, good hardiness,
has been replaced by the hardier, longer blooming 'Red Prince'. var. venusta A very hardy variety with small leaves and poor
purple pink flowers. Arnold Arboretum 1905 Variegata* A yellow and green
variegated form with light rosy pink flowers Variegata (praecox) May be the same a 'Variegata' Variegata Nana* Said to be a compact form,
but appears to be the same as Variegata Versicolor* A vigorous plant with light green leaves and cream,
pink and rose colored flowers. Not as refined as 'Carnaval' Victoria* An upright growing plant with small burgundy green
leaves. The leaves are not nearly as dark as WINE & ROSES. Herman
Geers, Netherlands wagnerii A hybrid between (W. Coreaeensis x W. florida) and W.
middendorffiana, Oval oblong leaves, bright pink flowers tinged with
yellow Wessex Gold Description not found.
Presumably a yellow leafed form. White Knight* pp#8348 White flowers with a touch of yellow in throat,
strong rebloomer, a patented plant from Iowa State University. WINE & ROSESâ*
'Alexandra' pp#10772 A new Dutch selection with dark burgundy foliage, and
vivid pink flowers. Developed by Herman Geers. Key: * Author has personally grown or seen plant (p) W.
praecox cultivar or hybrid, (c) W. coraeensis cultivar or hybrid, ppaf plant
patent pending
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