My Monet® ( florida ‘Verweig’) has variegation that changes depending on light exposure — whiter in shade and pinker in full sun.

Thoroughly modern By Elizabeth Petersen Formerly a faded favorite, weigela The old-fashioned, blousy look of has bounced back with colorful weigela was always a traditional favor- ite in cottage gardens. The charming, foliage and reblooming selections trumpet-shaped attract hum- mingbirds in late spring and early sum- mer, when the hardy produces corymbs of rosy pink flowers. Despite these positive attributes, however, the spring-blooming land- scape shrub waned in popularity for a time, as more exciting, smaller swept the market. Weigela was still grown and it still sold — particularly in the upper Midwest due to cold hardiness in USDA Zones 4 to 9. However, it acquired a

JULY 2013 ▲ DIGGER 21 ▲ THOROUGHLY MODERN WEIGELA

Plain Jane reputation. Yes, it had pretty have moved up over the past blooms, but it didn’t stand out in parts few years into the top third of sellers at of the country where a wider pal- the nursery. ette could grow. “Weigela bloomed in the spring Dramatic foliage extends and remained an uninteresting, green the seasons of interest mass for the remainder of the garden- The big breakthrough in weigelas ing season,” said Shannon Springer, was the introduction of Wine & Roses® public relations and marketing special- weigela (Weigela florida ‘Alexandra’) ist at Spring Meadow Nursery in Grand about 15 years ago. Haven, Mich. Part of the Proven Winners® Since that time, several things have ColorChoice shrub line, Wine & Roses changed in weigela’s favor. In the last two was the most exciting new variety to decades, new forms have debuted from hit the market in years. Its name came worldwide breeding programs. These from its deep, burgundy-purple foliage improved varieties are enjoying increased (the color of wine) and its vivid, deep popularity, and the sales to match. pink flowers (the color of roses). The “Weigelas are definitely reliable sell- purple foliage helps it hold its own in Weigela ‘Lemon Ice’ blooms much earlier than ers,” said Ken McVicker, sales manager the landscape, even after spring flowers other cultivars — in late April and May — and at Vane Essen Nursery Co., a grower have faded. lightly reblooms all summer through fall. of quality branded flowering in “Suddenly, it was worth giving photo courtesy of Van Essen Nursery Lebanon, Ore. According to McVicker, coveted gardening space to weigela,”

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22 Digger_SonicJULY 2013 ▲ Bloom.indd DIGGER 1 5/30/13 2:56 PM The Sonic Bloom™ series of reblooming weigelas burst with color in May and continue blooming in waves until frost. photo courtesy of Proven Winners

Springer said. These aren’t your grandma’s Wine & Roses established itself weigelas anymore. quickly as a season-long ornamental It’s no wonder weigelas sell by the plant with excellent commercial value. millions. Besides producing volumes of Even out of bloom, the attractive, color- blooms, they thrive in many soil types, ful foliage produces sales. take extreme cold and have no serious Other exciting, new forms of pest problems. They are easy to propa- weigela have expanded its appeal geo- gate, easy to grow and present well graphically. The newest versions of in containers. With plenty of sun, the these hardy shrubs have greater curb plants produce loads of flowers. Some appeal and boast bright, colorful foli- newer forms even take part-shade. age for three-season interest. colors include bright yellow, copper, burgundy From Proven Winners and nearly black. There’s also an assort- After the breakthrough introduction ment of variegated forms. of Wine & Roses, new Proven Winners They come in compact sizes to fit weigela varieties have combined great smaller landscapes and produce blooms foliage with more compact plants, earlier. Perhaps most exciting of all are Springer said. the longer bloom times. The wine collection now includes Reblooming weigelas with great three more selections. All have the foliage and compact habits — what same deep, dark foliage color and pink could be better? spring flowers, but they range in size Older varieties are still specified from just 10 inches to five feet, so they in some commercial work, according can be used as anything from a ground- to McVicker, but many of the newer cover to a specimen plant. varieties — with compact habits, multi- Unlike full-size Wine & Roses, colored and variegated foliage, re- Midnight Wine® (Weigela florida blooming and earlier blooming — are ‘Elvera’) has a dwarf, mounded habit. It definitely changing the landscape. grows only 8–10 inches tall and twice

JULY 2013 ▲ DIGGER 23 ▲ THOROUGHLY MODERN WEIGELA

There’s no mistaking where ‘Wine & Roses’ got its name from; its deep purple foliage is the color of a fine Burgundy, accented with a profusion of rosy blooms. photo courtesy of Proven Winners

as wide, and needs no pruning. This Fine Wine® (Weigela florida makes it an excellent, tidy choice for ‘Bramwell’) has a compact habit of Ben Piper 503-710-1778 the front of a border or edging a peren- about 2–3 feet tall and wide. nial bed. It also makes a great accent While Wine & Roses continues Ken Doubrava 503-866-6116 plant or a dramatic mass planting. to be one of the best-selling plants Spilled Wine™ (Weigela florida in the whole line of Proven Winners Jim McKay 503-710-1777 ‘Bokraspiwi’) has dark red, wavy ColorChoice shrubs, other new introduc- and a broad, spreading habit. Its hot tions continue the modern weigela trend. pink-magenta flowers are similar to Ghost™ (Weigela florida ‘Carlton’) those of Wine & Roses, but the plant produces a very different effect in the only reaches 18–24 inches tall and garden. Its unusually pale, iridescent 2–3 feet wide. The dark foliage has an buttercream foliage that produces a attractive wavy margin and will not fade striking contrast with dark red flowers. to green like some older selections, so For fans of variegated foliage on

WILBUR-ELLIS Logo and Ideas to Grow With are registered trademarks of Wilbur-Ellis Company. K-1012-790 it is a good choice for adding color to very compact plants, selections in the mass plantings. dwarf My Monet® Proven Winners

24 JULY 2013 ▲ DIGGER series offer unique variegation and very low growth that makes them useful groundcovers. My Monet (Weigela florida ‘Verweig’) was the first dwarf, varie- gated weigela. The breakthrough plant has cream, pink and green variegation, grows 10–16 inches tall, and is great in mass plantings. Pretty pink flow- ers bloom in spring, and colorful foli- age provides interest all season long. Depending on light exposure, the var- iegation changes from whiter shades in less sun to pinker shades in full sun. My Monet ‘Sunset’ (Weigela florida ‘Sunset’) offers different foliage color: gold that turns red in fall. Grown primar- • Custom Blending ily for the colorful foliage, it occasionally • Dry Fertilizers produces soft, rosy pink flowers. • Liquid Fertilizers The Farmlatest, Storemost exciting new addi- Main Offi ce tion is the arrival of reblooming weige- • Organic Amendments las. The20160 Sonic Main Bloom Street™ series is “easily • Fertilization7746 Programs St. Paul HWY St. Paul, Oregon St. Paul, Oregon the biggest thing to happen to weigela • Pest Management 503-633-4281 503-678-5932 since Wine & Roses,” Springer said. • Testing & Analysis Introduced1-888-814-5727 by Proven Winners, Sonic 1-800-648-2718 • Equipment Painting Bloom+RPHRIWKH6W3DXO5RGHR weigelas burst with color — red, ZZZPDULRQDJFRP pink or pearl — in May and continue • Cleaning blooming in waves until frost. This • Sand Blasting series of reblooming weigelas hit gar- • Animal Feed den centers this spring. Our team has the knowledge From Bailey Nurseries and experience to assist you Two weigela introductions from in making sound decisions. the First Editions® line from Bailey Nurseries arrived at garden centers last Farm Store spring. Both provide great garden color 20160 Main Street, St. Paul, Oregon and are exceptionally easy to grow. 503-633-4281 • 1-888-814-5727 “Weigela is a good example of an David & Patrick Home of the St. Paul Rodeo old-fashioned flowering shrub that is enjoying a resurgenceCustom of interest,” Blending said • Dry Fertilizers • Liquid Fertilizers • OrganicMain OfficeAmendments Natalia Hamill, brand and business devel- opment manager at BaileyFertilization Nurseries. Programs • Pest Management • Testing7746 & St.Analysis Paul HWY, St. Paul, Oregon 503-678-5932 • 1-800-648-2718 “As a genus, weigelaEquipment is getting aPainting • Seed Cleaning • Sand Blasting • Animal Feed lot of attention from breeders and plant www.marionag.com introduction companies, so there’s a lot of chatterOur team in the has trade the about knowledge the new introductions,”and experience she said. to assist you Marion Ag stocks the largest Flowering shrubs as a category and most complete inventory in making sound decisions. in North America. are seeing an upswing in interest, Hamill said. Flowering shrubs with more com- Marion Ag stocks the largest and most pact habits generate a lot of interest, since complete inventory they are better suited to smaller gardens. in North America. Shining Sensation™ Weigela

JULY 2013 ▲ DIGGER 25 ▲ THOROUGHLY MODERN WEIGELA

Burgundy Fire weigela is also known as “Wings of Fire” because of its leaves which start the season with a faint flush of pink color, then acquire red tones in the summer, turning a deep red wine hue in the fall. photo courtesy of ball horticultural co.

(Weigela florida ‘Bokrashine’), which ed foliage tinged with splashes of pink las, one with red flowers and another reaches 5–6 feet tall and 3–4 feet wide, provides a bright spot in the garden, with pink, coming soon. gets its name from the plant’s shiny spring through fall. “Get ready for this genus to con- burgundy leaves. The unique, polished tinue to gain popularity with consumers foliage serves as a beautiful backdrop From LCN Selections and landscape trade alike,” said Sarah for an abundant show of pink, funnel- Van Essen Nursery is the exclusive Hayes of Agricola Management Group, shaped flowers in May and June. Then, Oregon grower of Weigela Lemon Ice™ the exclusive licensee for the HGTV the foliage adds rich color to the garden (Weigela florida ‘Lemiczam’), a 2012 selec- Home Plant Collection. the rest of the season. Shining Sensation tion from LCN, the patent arm of Lake Burgundy Fire claims great foliage. also features graceful arching stems that County Nursery in Perry, Ohio. Lemon New growth is bronze, and during make it an interesting border plant. Ice produces lemon-yellow flowers, the growing season the green leaves Smaller still, Rainbow Sensation™ blooms in late April and May — much darken, taking on hues of red until weigela (Weigela florida ‘Kolmagira’) earlier than other cultivars — and lightly the display peaks in fall. Red stems reaches only 3–4 feet tall and wide. It reblooms all summer through fall. Young accent the mounded upright shrub, boasts vibrant, lemony-green variegated stems are red, which provides a nice con- which grows 3–4 feet tall and wide. foliage that can brighten any area of the trast to the green leaves during summer. Spring blooms are fuchsia and the landscape before and after it blooms. Its plant sporadically reblooms. leaves are highlighted by compact clus- From HGTV Home Plant Collection ters of soft pink flowers in May. Burgundy Fire weigela, a new vari- Elizabeth Petersen writes for the garden Perfect in a large container or in ety from Ball Horticultural Company, industry and teaches SAT/ACT test prep the garden, Rainbow Sensation is hardy is coming out in the new HGTV Home at www.satpreppdx.com. She can be and requires minimal care. After the Plant Collection this year. In addition, reached at [email protected] or profusion of flowers fades, the variegat- HGTV has two more reblooming weige- [email protected].

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