Weigela florida ‘Bristol Ruby’

Weigela florida ‘Bristol Ruby’ flower (26/05/2011, Prague)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Soil: Moist, well drained

Flowering period: Late spring to early summer

Eventual Height: 2.5m

Eventual Spread:  2m

Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9a

Family: Caprifoliacea

Weigela florida ‘Bristol Ruby’ is a deciduous shrub with an upright habit. Its foliage is oval and dark green with a serrate margin. Its flowers are usually bell-shaped and deep red in colour, developing from deep red buds in late spring and early summer. The flowers are sterile and do not go to seed.

The species Weigela florida, commonly known as Weigela, is native to north China and Korea. It was discovered by Robert Fortune in China and was imported to England in 1845. Weigela florida ‘Bristol Ruby’ was created by crossing Weigela florida with Weigela ‘Eva Rathke’.

The etymological root of the binomial name Weigela was named after the German scientist Christian Ehrenfried Weigel (1748-1831), a professor of botany at Greifswald. Florida is derived from the Latin meaning many flowers.

Weigela florida ‘Bristol Ruby’ (26/05/2011, Prague)

Weigela florida ‘Bristol Ruby’ may be useful to the landscape architect as a low maintenance, summer flowering shrub.

Weigela florida ‘Bristol Ruby’ prefers moist, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Ecologically, Weigela florida ‘Bristol Ruby’ will attract many pollinating insects such as honey bees.

Weigela florida ‘Bristol Ruby’  requires little maintenance. It may be pruned after flowering and will respond well to a hard pruning.