The Wine & Roses Weigela (Weigela florida ‘Wine & Roses’) is a popular ornamental shrub, cherished for its distinctive dark foliage and vibrant pink, trumpet-shaped flowers. This deciduous plant adds visual interest to gardens through multiple seasons. As temperatures drop, its appearance and needs change, making winter care an important consideration for maintaining its health and vigor.
Understanding Winter Dormancy
Deciduous shrubs like the Wine & Roses Weigela naturally enter dormancy as colder weather arrives. This process allows the plant to conserve energy and protect itself from freezing temperatures. During this period, the plant sheds its leaves, a visible sign of its metabolic activity slowing down. This healthy, annual leaf drop prepares the plant for winter, ensuring it can withstand the cold until spring.
Preparing Wine & Roses Weigela for Winter
Proper preparation in the fall significantly contributes to the Wine & Roses Weigela’s health and survival through winter. Deep watering before the ground freezes ensures root hydration and prevents desiccation, which occurs when cold winds draw moisture from plant tissues while roots cannot absorb water from frozen soil. Apply organic mulch, like wood chips or shredded leaves, around the base to insulate roots, regulate soil temperature, and retain moisture.
Avoid heavy pruning in late fall or winter, as it can stimulate new growth vulnerable to frost damage; however, minor removal of dead or damaged wood is acceptable. Major shaping is best reserved for after spring flowering. Planting the Weigela in a suitable location with well-drained soil and ample sunlight contributes to its overall hardiness, making it more resilient to winter conditions.
Winter Appearance and Survival
In winter, the Wine & Roses Weigela undergoes a noticeable transformation. Its signature dark purple foliage is shed, leaving bare branches that still contribute structural form to the winter landscape.
The plant is hardy, typically thriving in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 4 through 8, tolerating average annual extreme minimum temperatures from approximately -30°F to 20°F. It employs survival mechanisms like reduced metabolic activity and accumulating natural compounds that act like antifreeze within its cells. This allows internal tissues to resist freezing, ensuring the plant remains viable even in harsh conditions. Though parts may experience dieback in colder zones, the root system often remains intact, allowing for spring regrowth.
Addressing Winter Challenges
Despite its hardiness, the Wine & Roses Weigela can face several challenges during winter.
Winter burn, or desiccation, occurs when cold, dry winds and bright winter sun draw moisture from the plant faster than its roots can replenish it from frozen soil. This can lead to browning of branch tips, especially on the side exposed to prevailing winds. Deep watering in the fall and applying generous mulch helps mitigate this issue. In highly exposed locations, wrapping the shrub with burlap can offer additional protection.
Heavy snow and ice accumulation can cause branches to bend or break; gently removing excessive snow can prevent damage. Critter damage, primarily from deer and rabbits, can also be a concern, as these animals may browse on woody stems when other food sources are scarce. Although Weigela is considered deer resistant, it is not deer-proof; fencing or repellents can deter persistent animals.
Finally, late frosts after the plant has begun to break dormancy in spring can damage new, tender growth. While the plant usually recovers, it may impact the season’s flowering.