Weigela plant and its prevalence

Weigela shrubs are not seen in every garden. Some gardeners might not know about them. Learning about different types, how they grow, and how to care for them is a good idea.

Weigela is part of the Honeysuckle family. All weigelas are shrubs. The plant is named after Christian Weigel. He studied plants, chemistry, and drugs. Wild weigela grows in eastern and southeastern Asia. It can be found as far north as the Russian Far East. Its range extends south to Java.

There are 15 kinds of weigela shrubs. However, only 7 are pretty enough for gardens. These 7 types, and the ones made from them, are both pretty and easy to grow.

Weigela needs water and does well in shady places. It does not spread by stolons. Its leaves grow opposite each other on stems. It has no stipules. Flowers can grow up to 2 inches long. Some types have single flowers. Others have many flowers in loose groups.

Weigela flowers come in many colors. You can find cream, pink, red, and yellow types. The flower color gets brighter as they bloom. The fruit is a small box with two parts. Inside the box are tiny seeds. Garden weigela grows from 2 to 6 feet tall. Wild types can reach 8 feet.

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