Weigela hortensis
Family: Caprifoliaceae
What it is like
UPDATE 12/09/2011: This name is unresolved, but some data suggest that it is synonymous with Diervilla hortensis Siebold & Zucc..
Weigela hortensis is a deciduous Shrub growing to 5 m (16ft 5in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.
Height (m): 5
Where it is found
Common on sunny hills and mountains at elevations of 20 - 1800 metres.
E. Asia - C. and N. Japan.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
Young leaves - cooked. A famine food, they are only used when all else fails. A tea is made from the leaves.
Tea: the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent
How it is grown
An easily grown plant, succeeding in most fertile soils. Prefers a moist well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Tolerates atmospheric pollution. Plants are very floriferous and can exhaust themselves, literally flowering themselves to death. The flowers are borne in the leaf nodes of the previous years growth and any pruning is therefore best done as soon as the plant has finished flowering. The flowers have a soft sweet perfume. Closely related to W. japonica. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.
Propagating it: Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if this is possible, otherwise in late winter or early spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer. Softwood basal cuttings, 10 - 12cm long, in a sandy soil in a cold frame in early summer. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 8 - 10 cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth. 20 cm long, November in a sheltered outdoor nursery bed.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: 6-9
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist