The ‘Spilled Wine’ Weigela (Weigela florida) is a popular deciduous shrub, admired for its striking deep purple foliage and abundant hot pink flowers. This cultivar offers continuous visual interest throughout the growing season, from vibrant spring blooms to rich leaf color. Its compact, spreading habit makes it a versatile choice for various landscape designs, including borders and container plantings. Understanding its specific needs helps gardeners ensure a healthy, vibrant display.
Providing Optimal Growing Conditions
‘Spilled Wine’ Weigela thrives in locations receiving ample sunlight, ideally at least six hours of direct sun daily. Full sun exposure particularly enhances the dark purple foliage and promotes prolific pink flowers. While the plant tolerates some partial shade, especially in hotter climates, too much shade may result in less vibrant foliage and reduced flowering.
The shrub adapts to a range of soil types, including clay, sand, and loam, but performs best in well-drained conditions. Proper drainage is important to prevent root issues; amending heavy or clay soils with organic matter improves structure and fertility. ‘Spilled Wine’ Weigela prefers a soil pH that is slightly acidic to neutral, typically ranging between 5.5 and 7.5.
Consistent moisture is important for newly planted shrubs as they establish root systems, usually for about six weeks. Once established, the plant exhibits good drought tolerance and may only require supplemental watering during extended dry periods. Checking the soil moisture by hand, about three inches deep, helps determine when watering is necessary. This Weigela is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8, indicating its ability to withstand winter temperatures down to approximately -13 degrees Fahrenheit.
Feeding Your Weigela
‘Spilled Wine’ Weigela is not a heavy feeder, and minimal fertilization is needed to support its growth and flowering. Applying a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer or an all-purpose shrub fertilizer once a year is generally sufficient. This application is best timed for early spring, just before new growth begins to emerge.
Fertilizing then provides a nutritional boost, supporting new foliage and promoting a robust display of flowers. When applying granular products, sprinkle the fertilizer evenly around the plant’s root zone, a few inches from the stem, and water lightly for absorption. Avoiding fertilization past mid-summer helps prevent tender new growth susceptible to winter damage.
Pruning Techniques
Pruning ‘Spilled Wine’ Weigela helps maintain its shape, encourages healthy growth, and promotes abundant flowering. The ideal time to prune is immediately after its main flush of blooms fades, typically in late spring or early summer. This timing is important because Weigela blooms on old wood; flower buds for the current season’s display formed on branches from the previous year.
Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches. Lightly trimming branch tips after flowering encourages bushier growth. For older, more mature plants, rejuvenation pruning can be performed in early spring by removing two or three of the largest canes down to the ground. This process can be repeated annually over three years to revitalize the shrub, though it may temporarily reduce blooms that year.
Addressing Common Issues
If ‘Spilled Wine’ Weigela does not flower as profusely as expected, it is often due to insufficient sunlight or improper pruning. A lack of adequate sun exposure can diminish both foliage color and flower production. Pruning at the wrong time, such as late winter or early spring before blooming, removes old wood where flower buds formed, reducing the season’s blossoms. Ensuring the plant receives full sun and is pruned correctly after flowering helps address these issues.
Foliage discoloration, such as yellowing or browning leaves, can signal various underlying problems. Overwatering or poorly draining soil can lead to root rot, causing leaves to yellow and the plant to decline. Conversely, prolonged periods of drought can cause browning and wilting. Nutrient deficiencies, though less common if the plant is fertilized annually, can also contribute to discoloration. Checking soil moisture and ensuring proper drainage are important steps in diagnosing these issues.
‘Spilled Wine’ Weigela is generally resistant to many pests and diseases, but it can occasionally encounter issues like aphids, spider mites, or powdery mildew. Aphids and spider mites are small insects that feed on plant sap, potentially causing distorted or discolored leaves. Insecticidal soap or neem oil can be effective treatments for these pests. Powdery mildew appears as a white, powdery coating on leaves, particularly in humid conditions with poor air circulation. Improving air circulation through proper plant spacing and selective pruning, along with removing infected foliage, helps manage powdery mildew.