Shrub Partners to Rhododendrons
Right next to a rhododendron that has given its all only weeks ago and is now ready for deadheading, pinching and pruning, is a lovely colourful shrub earning its rightful turn in the garden.
Weigela
Weigela are beautiful, deer-resistant, highly-manageable flowering shrubs. Although they may naturally grow 6 to 10 feet in height and width, they are easily pruned to size and shape after flowering.
Weigela prefer average, well-drained soils but are also tolerant of clay soils. For best flowering and foliage colour, they require six hours of full sun or light shade. Therefore, planting them at the sunnier edges of rhododendron beds is effective.
Weigela ‘Red Prince’ displays dramatic white pistols and stamens against crimson, non-fading petals
Weigela ‘Red Prince’ with its bright funnel shaped red flowers attracts hummingbirds
Weigela ‘Wine and Roses’ has bronze foliage and dusky-rose red flowers. It grows slowly and responds well to pruning.
Weigela florida ‘Variegata’
Weigela florida ‘Variegata’
Weigela ‘Czechmark Trilogy has tricolour blooms of pink, red and white. Pollinators love it, especially butterflies.
Weigela are bright and colourful shrubs that carry a rainbow of colours over the weeks in June.