Description
Weigela florida ‘Foliis Purpureis’ – purple-leaved weigela
Botanical name: Weigela florida ‘Foliis Purpureis’
Common names: Weigela
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Habit: Bushy, arching
Pot size: 10 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 1–1.2m tall × 1–1.2m spread
Foliage: Bronze-purple foliage all season; deciduous
Flowers: Soft pink funnel-shaped flowers in early summer (May–June)
Scent: Not notably scented
Aspect / light: Full sun (best foliage colour) to partial shade
Soil: Most soils; moist but well-drained, fertile; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H6 (hardy, to about −20°C); USDA zones 4–8
Exposure: Sheltered or exposed; tolerant
Native range: Species native to eastern Asia
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic to people and pets
Weigela florida ‘Foliis Purpureis’ is a compact, slow-growing shrub with bronze-purple foliage and soft pink early-summer flowers. A refined, easy choice for foliage contrast and bee-friendly colour.
GardenAdvice notes
An easy, reliable deciduous shrub, weigela is grown for its generous late-spring to early-summer display of funnel-shaped flowers, which smother the arching branches and are loved by bees. This form has the bonus of richly coloured purple foliage all season. Tough, hardy and adaptable, it is a dependable choice for mixed and shrub borders.
Growing & planting
Plant in autumn or spring in most soils in full sun to partial shade — it is very tolerant, though flowering and foliage colour are best in good light. Give it moist but well-drained, fertile soil for the best growth. Space appropriately for its size. Water well while establishing.
Care & maintenance
Low-maintenance. Prune immediately after flowering: cut back the stems that have flowered, and remove around a quarter to a third of the oldest stems right to the base each year to keep it vigorous, well-shaped and free-flowering. Avoid pruning in winter or spring, as this removes the flower buds. Feed and mulch in spring.
Propagation
- Cuttings: Take softwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in autumn.
Pests & diseases
Generally trouble-free, tough and healthy, with few pests or diseases. An easy and reliable shrub.
Uses in the garden
Superb in mixed and shrub borders, as an informal flowering shrub or hedge, and in cottage and wildlife gardens, where its abundant early flowers and coloured foliage bring colour and attract bees.
Wildlife value
The funnel-shaped flowers are attractive to bees and other pollinating insects, and are a good early-summer nectar source.
Toxicity & safety
Weigela is generally regarded as non-toxic to people and pets.
GardenAdvice tip
This is a more compact, slower-growing purple weigela, its bronze-purple leaves making a lovely foil for the soft pink flowers and for brighter neighbours in a border. It’s ideal where space is limited; give it full sun for the best foliage colour, and prune right after flowering, thinning out some old stems, rather than in winter, which would sacrifice the blooms.
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