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Species : Weigela florida Family : Caprifoliaceae Image No. 1

Weigela

Deciduous flowering shrubs from eastern Asia with pink, red, or white blooms

Photo: Kurt Stüber [1], CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Weigela is a group of deciduous shrubs native to eastern Asia, known for their showy clusters of pink, red, or white flowers in early summer. Popular in gardens, these hardy plants attract bees and hummingbirds and are valued for their ease of care and ornamental appeal.

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  • Native to eastern Asia, including Japan and China
  • Produces pink, red, white, or rarely yellow flowers in early summer
  • Popular garden shrub that attracts bees and hummingbirds
  • First introduced to Western gardens in 1845
  • Many hybrids and cultivars are widely grown

What does Weigela look like?

Weigela shrubs grow between 1 and 5 meters tall and have ovate-oblong leaves with serrated edges, measuring 5 to 15 cm long. Their flowers, which appear in small clusters, are funnel-shaped with five lobes and range in color from white and pink to red, and rarely yellow. These blooms appear in early summer and are often attractive to bees and hummingbirds. The plant produces dry capsules filled with many small, winged seeds.

Where does Weigela come from?

Weigela is native to eastern Asia, with species found in regions such as northern China, Korea, and Japan. The genus was named after Christian Ehrenfried Weigel, a German scientist. The first species introduced to Western gardens, Weigela florida, was brought from North China to England in 1845 by Robert Fortune. More species and varieties were collected from Japan in the mid-19th century as the country opened to Westerners. Fossil records show ancient relatives in Denmark from the Miocene period.

When and how Weigela blooms

Weigela flowers in late spring to early summer. It is a hardy shrub that grows well in gardens, thriving in a range of soils and climates. Most garden plants are hybrids, especially crosses involving Weigela florida. Popular cultivars like 'Red Prince' and 'Pink Princess' are valued for their compact form and profuse flowering. Plants are usually grown from cuttings or young shrubs bought from nurseries.

Weigela coraeensis
Weigela coraeensis. Photo: KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Weigela middendorffiana in the Tallinn Botanical Garden
Weigela middendorffiana in the Tallinn Botanical Garden. Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Weigela florida in the Tallinn Botanical Garden
Weigela florida in the Tallinn Botanical Garden. Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Weigela coraeensis , Musashi Kyuryou National Government Park, Saitama pref., Japan
Weigela coraeensis , Musashi Kyuryou National Government Park, Saitama pref., Japan. Photo: Qwert1234, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How Weigela is used

Weigela is widely grown as an ornamental shrub in gardens and parks for its colorful and abundant flowers. Its blooms attract pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds, making it a favorite for wildlife-friendly gardens. Some national collections of Weigela can be found in botanical gardens in the UK and Germany.

Kinds of Weigela

There are between six and 38 species of Weigela, with many hybrids and cultivars developed for gardens. Notable varieties include 'Red Prince', 'Alexandra', 'Florida Variegata', and 'Pink Princess', each offering different flower colors and growth habits. Most garden plants are hybrids, especially those involving Weigela florida.

What Weigela means

Weigela has become a popular garden shrub in Europe and beyond since its introduction from Asia in the 19th century. It is not tied to specific symbolism or religious use in the sources, but its showy flowers and ease of care have made it a staple in ornamental horticulture. National collections are maintained in botanical gardens in the UK and Germany.

Questions people ask about Weigela

Where does Weigela come from?

Weigela is native to eastern Asia, with species found in northern China, Korea, and Japan. It was first introduced to Western gardens in the mid-19th century.

What does Weigela look like?

Weigela is a deciduous shrub that grows 1 to 5 meters tall, with ovate-oblong, serrated leaves and clusters of funnel-shaped flowers in pink, red, white, or rarely yellow.

How is Weigela used?

Weigela is mainly grown as an ornamental shrub in gardens and parks for its colorful flowers, which attract bees and hummingbirds.

Are there different types of Weigela?

Yes, there are several species and many garden cultivars, including 'Red Prince', 'Alexandra', and 'Pink Princess', each with different flower colors and sizes.

Does Weigela have any special meaning or symbolism?

The sources do not mention any specific symbolism or religious use for Weigela. It is valued mainly for its ornamental qualities.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Weigela", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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