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| This Month in the Garden |
Welcome to This Month in the Garden! As a garden designer, the most often request I receive is for a "low maintenance" garden. Experts in the horticultural industry are constantly striving to create cultivars that are not only hardy, but that produce more abundant blooms on a smaller sized plant. While numerous species of Weigela have been enjoyed by gardeners for years, two newer dwarf cultivars, 'My Monet' and 'Spilled Wine' have been introduced into the gardening world.
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| Weigela 'My Monet' Foliage |
The first, Weigela 'My Monet' is a dwarf cultivar, reaching a height and width of 12-18 inches high by 18-24 inches wide. Hardy in USDA zones 4-6, 'My Monet' prefers a location with full to part sun and a medium moist, well-drained soil. The blooms, which appear in early to late spring, form on the previous wood of the season, so it is best pruned after flowering. Due to its small size, 'My Monet' may need no pruning at all!
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| Weigela 'My Monet' Blooms |
This beauty was cultivated from its original, Weigela florida 'Tango', and is the first dwarf variegated Weigela to be introduced. Variegation changes depending on light exposure. In partial shade, variegated appears whiter, while appearing more pink in full sun. Weigela 'My Monet' is butterfly and hummingbird friendly and also not preferred by deer.
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| Weigela 'Spilled Wine' Foliage |
While Weigela 'My Monet' is loved for its variegated foliage, 'Spilled Wine' is another dwarf cultivar displaying deep burgundy foliage throughout the growing season. Hardy in USDA zones 4-8, Weigela 'Spilled Wine' produces the vibrant pink blooms of its parent plant 'Wine & Roses' on a more compact 24-36 inch high by wide shrub. 'Spilled Wine' prefers a location with full to partial sun and a medium moist, well-drained soil. Its blooms also form on "old wood", so any pruning should occur right after bloom. The blooms are an attraction to both butterflies and hummingbirds and 'Spilled Wine' is known to be moderately deer resistant. (Depending on location and deer population, deer may nibble on the new growth of the season.)
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| Weigela 'Spilled Wine' Blooms |
I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden. Be sure to stop by on the 1st. and 15th. of each month as I continue to share gardening tips, information and horticultural adventures! (Linking with: Floral Fridays, Macro Monday 2, Ruby Tuesday and Image-in-ing Weekly Photo Link-Up.
For gardening info and tips: Visit my Author Page/Purchase My Books Be sure to check out my newest book: Gardening by Month for 12-months of interest in the landscape!😊
Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2010-2021. All rights reserved.
Oh, I do like Weigelas, and I have one. It's very reliable and easy care. Unfortunately, this is the first year that I noticed lots of rabbit damage over the winter. But, I'll even it out with a bit of trimming, and hopefully next spring it will have a better shape. ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt is a wonderful plant. The rabbits need to behave themselves!
DeleteThis is a cutie.
ReplyDeleteI do love the dwarf flowering shrubs with little maintenance and they fit well into those smaller spaces. This one is a keeper!
DeleteLove that plant! Had we stayed in our house I was planning to add a few of those for color, replacing a few other tired plants. I love the rich burgundy leaves of the Wine and Roses, but the Spilled Wine variety is even more attractive in its dwarf version. Love your My Monet too!
ReplyDeleteI find them to be wonderful and reliable. I will often use the 'Spilled Wine' more for the color of its foliage.
DeleteI never known that weigela may have a dwarf version, Lee. Interesting! I should find it, love this plant.
ReplyDeleteIt is a new cultivar Nadezda and it is wonderful!
DeleteSuch beauty!Hugs!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the post! As mentioned, these are keepers!
DeleteThe color of My Monet' blossoms and leaves looks beautiful; almost like a tall ground cover. Your garden bed is such a lovely site.
ReplyDeleteThank you Yvonne! The 'My Monet' is perfect since it only grows to about 12-18 inches tall, which makes it perfect for the front of a garden border.
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