Best weigela cultivars
*Weigela florida* and its hybrids have undergone more intensive breeding in the past 25 years than almost any other deciduous flowering shrub. The old-fashioned weigela of the 1960s suburban yard -- large, arching, briefly pink -- has been replaced by a range of compact, often dark-foliaged.
—- title: "Best weigela cultivars" slug: best-weigela-cultivars hub: plants category: "Cultivar guide" description: "Sourced guide to the best weigela cultivars for foliage color, bloom, and compact size, with zone ranges, pruning timing, and hummingbird value." date: 2026-06-10 updated: 2026-06-10 author: "Thomas A." reading_time: 9 —-
Weigela florida and its hybrids have undergone more intensive breeding in the past 25 years than almost any other deciduous flowering shrub. The old-fashioned weigela of the 1960s suburban yard — large, arching, briefly pink — has been replaced by a range of compact, often dark-foliaged cultivars that hold visual interest for months. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, W. florida is native to northern China and Korea, hardy in zones 4—9, and in its straight-species form reaches 6—10 feet by 9—12 feet.
I don't grow weigela in my Melville, Long Island garden — the deer here strip the foliage if I neglect the repellent rotation. The guidance below is sourced from Extension publications and cultivar trial data.
Why foliage matters now
The original breeding goal for weigela was flower color and bloom period. Modern breeding has added dark (burgundy to near-black) and variegated foliage as primary traits. Per North Carolina State University Extension, this matters because weigela blooms primarily in May—June and reblooms lightly in summer — roughly 3—5 weeks of peak bloom out of a 7-month growing season. Cultivars with persistent dark or variegated foliage earn their keep the other months.
Large cultivars (5—8 ft)
'Wine & Roses' (W. florida 'Alexandra')
Introduced by Poulsen Roser of Denmark and widely distributed through Proven Winners, 'Wine & Roses' set the standard for dark-foliaged weigela. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, it grows 4—5 feet tall by 4—5 feet wide, is hardy in zones 4—8, and produces rose-pink trumpet flowers against near-black foliage in May—June with light rebloom. The contrast between flower and foliage is the main ornamental feature.
'Tango' and 'Alexandra'
'Tango' is a Dutch introduction in the same size class (4—5 ft), dark foliage, rose-pink flowers. Per RHS plant trials data, it earned an Award of Garden Merit for consistent performance in UK trials, which generally translates well to US zones 5—7.
'Rumba'
A compact, upright selection to 4 ft, with striped variegated foliage and red flowers. Per Penn State Extension, the upright habit makes it suitable for tighter spaces than most weigelas. Zones 4—8.
Medium cultivars (3—5 ft)
'Spilled Wine'
Proven Winners introduction; similar dark burgundy foliage to 'Wine & Roses' but with a wider, lower-spreading habit — 2—3 ft tall by 3—4 ft wide. Per Illinois Extension cultivar notes, the lower habit makes it useful as a ground cover or cascading over a wall. Zones 4—8. Deep pink flowers May—June.
'Midnight Wine'
Further reduced version — 18—24 inches tall, 18—24 inches wide — with the same dark foliage as 'Wine & Roses'. Per NC State Extension, a true front-of-border or container plant for this genus. Hardy zones 4—8. Pink-magenta flowers.
'Ghost'
Bright chartreuse-yellow foliage (not dark), pink flowers. A visual contrast to the dark-foliaged group. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, grows to 5—6 ft; full sun is needed to maintain the yellow foliage color.
'My Monet' (also sold as 'Verweig')
Compact (18—24 inches), variegated foliage with white-green-pink tones, light pink flowers. Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, the smallest of the commonly available weigelas; useful as a container annual in zones colder than 4. Reliable in zones 4—8.
Reblooming performance
Weigela blooms primarily on old wood in spring but will produce secondary bloom on new growth through summer. Per Clemson HGIC, the intensity of rebloom varies by cultivar and by summer temperatures. Cultivars noted for stronger rebloom include:
- 'Tango' — stronger rebloom noted in RHS trials
- 'Czechmark Trilogy' (First Editions) — sold specifically for extended bloom; white, pink, and red flowers on the same plant at different stages; 3—5 ft, zones 4—8
Hummingbird attraction
The tubular trumpet-shaped flowers of weigela are structurally suited to hummingbird pollination. Per Xerces Society resources on hummingbird plants, red-flowered weigelas attract the most hummingbird activity, though pink cultivars also draw them. 'Sonic Bloom Red' (PW) and 'Carnaval' are specifically selected red-flowered forms.
Red-flowered selections:
- 'Sonic Bloom Red' (PW) — 4—5 ft, strong rebloom, bright red flowers; zones 4—7; per Proven Winners, one of the heaviest reblooming weigelas
- 'Carnaval' — bicolor red and white flowers; 4—5 ft; zones 4—8; less intense hummingbird attraction due to white flowers but unusual visually
- 'Red Prince' — reliable red-flowered variety; 5—6 ft; zones 4—8; old-fashioned upright habit; per University of Minnesota Extension, one of the longest-blooming red cultivars in northern trials
Pruning
Per Clemson HGIC, weigela blooms on old wood and should be pruned immediately after the primary spring bloom, not in fall. Remove about one-third of old stems to the ground each year to keep the center open. Do not shear. Hard renewal pruning (cutting the entire plant to 12—18 inches) can be done in late winter but sacrifices one season of bloom.
Remove deadwood in early spring at any time.
Site requirements
Per Missouri Botanical Garden:
- Full sun (6+ hours) for best flower production and foliage color. Dark foliage cultivars fade to green-purple in shade.
- Moist, well-drained soil; tolerates a range of pH (5.5—7.5)
- Moderate drought tolerance once established; not tolerant of standing water
Common problems
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No spring bloom | Pruned in fall or early spring (cut off flower buds) | Prune only immediately after bloom |
| Green foliage on a dark-foliaged cultivar | Insufficient sun | Move to full sun; dark foliage needs 6+ hrs direct sun |
| Dieback on branch tips in spring | Winter dieback, especially in zone 4 | Cut dead wood back to live tissue in spring; not fatal |
| Woody, dense center with few flowers | Never thinned | Remove one-third of oldest stems annually |
Frequently asked questions
When does weigela bloom? Peak bloom is May—June on old wood, per Missouri Botanical Garden. Rebloom on new growth occurs July—September but is lighter and varies by cultivar. In zone 7a (Long Island), peak bloom typically falls in the second to third week of May.
Is weigela deer-resistant? No. Per Rutgers NJAES deer resistance ratings, weigela is rated "occasionally severely damaged." In high-pressure landscapes, physical barriers or repellent applications are necessary.
Can I cut weigela to the ground to rejuvenate it? Yes. Per Clemson HGIC, hard renovation pruning to 12—18 inches in late winter will produce vigorous new growth, though you sacrifice one season of bloom. Repeat every 5—7 years on mature plants.
Do dark-foliaged weigelas keep their color all season? With adequate sun (6+ hours), yes. Per NC State Extension, cultivars like 'Wine & Roses' and 'Spilled Wine' maintain dark burgundy foliage from spring flush through fall in full sun. In partial shade, foliage shifts toward olive-green by midsummer.
Sources
- Missouri Botanical Garden — Weigela florida
- Missouri Botanical Garden — Weigela 'Wine & Roses'
- NC State Extension — Weigela florida
- NC State Extension — Weigela 'Midnight Wine'
- Penn State Extension — Weigela
- Clemson HGIC — Weigela
- University of Minnesota Extension — Weigela
- Royal Horticultural Society — Weigela plant trials
- Xerces Society — Plants for hummingbirds
- Rutgers NJAES — Deer-resistant plants