Weigela Candida

Weigelia 'Candida' is a vigorous bush that is part of the great classics of flowering hedges and large landscape beds in many French regions. Easy to grow in a fresh soil, of beautiful stature, perfectly hardy, it offers a multitude of white and candid flowers in the shape of a funnel, rather large for the genus, which continue to bloom until the heart of summer. This flowering is even more graceful as it covers slightly arched branches and the bush, a sterile hybrid, does not exhaust itself by bearing fruits. The autumn colours of the foliage, tinged with ochre and purple, awaken the large beds.

Weigela 'Candida' derives from, among others, Weigela florida, native to northeastern China, Korea and Japan. Weigelas are Asian and belong to the family of Caprifoliaceae, just like honeysuckles. 'Candida' is a calcicolous bush (preferring calcareous soils) that develops a fibrous and tracing root system, which supports transplantation perfectly. It has a bushy habit, and eventually forms a large, ramified bush with initially erect branches that arch over time. Its growth is rapid in fresh soil, reaching about 2.50 metres (8 feet 2 inches) in height and 2 metres (6 feet 7 inches) in width when mature. Its funnel-shaped flowers, large compared to the type, are pure white. They are borne in corymbs, at the end of the previous year's branches, and bloom abundantly from May to June, then more sporadically in July. Its deciduous foliage is composed of light and bright green leaves, without petioles, pubescent on the underside, oval in shape, and takes on beautiful colours at the end of the season.

Hardy up to -20°C, the Weigela 'Candida' thrives in sunny or semi-shaded positions, in a fresh but well-drained soil. Its arched and vigorous habit makes it a very ornamental bush, whose abundant and candid flowering, far from being sad, animates any bocage hedge throughout the summer. In a bed, for example, give it companions such as Elaeanus pungens 'Maculata', Kerria japonica, Viburnum carlesii, mahonias, Hydrangea, variegated dogwoods, spireas, ornamental brambles, or even a Ribes gordonianum. In the background, the very dark foliage of hollies or yews will form a beautiful setting for its bright flowering and will ensure the decor in winter.