Weigela Carnaval

Weigelia 'Carnaval' will seduce with its generous spring to summer flowering, which displays a rich palette of colours ranging from white to deep red, forming a multicoloured bouquet on the whole shrub. With a graceful, slightly arched habit, this shrub transforms from late spring into a fountain loaded with bell-shaped flowers, each one different, which elegantly fade without producing fruits. This hybrid variety often reblooms in late summer after a light summer pruning.

Weigelas are Asian plants, native to northern China, Japan, and Korea, and belong to the Caprifoliaceae family along with honeysuckles. Weigela 'Carnaval' (Courtalor) is a recent hybrid obtained by the INRA. It is a calcicolous (preferring calcareous soils) shrub, with a rather slow growth, and it has a fibrous and trailing root system, which makes it perfectly suitable for transplantation. It has a flexible habit, slightly taller than wide, and forms a ramified bush with trailing branches, reaching an average height and width of 1.5 m (5 ft), sometimes more depending on the growing conditions. Its funnel-shaped flowers, 3 cm (1 in) long, have various colours: some are pure white, others are English rose or raspberry-pink, while some are red-purple, spotted or marginate depending on the flowers, with the throat often being a deeper red-pink. All of them have a white style that protrudes from the corolla. They are borne in corymbs, small clusters, at the tips of the previous year's branches. They abound from May to June, and then sporadically in summer, delighting bees. This variety does not produce fruits, allowing it to dedicate all its energy to flowering. Its deciduous foliage consists of dark green, sessile leaves, pubescent on the underside, with an oval shape. The lamina, dentate at the edges, is light green and slightly textured, taking on a yellow hue in autumn before falling.

Hardy down to -20 °C (-4 °F), Weigela 'Carnaval' thrives in sunny or semi-shaded positions, in ordinary, moist but well-drained soil that has been well tilled. Its flexible and bushy habit makes it a highly ornamental shrub, with its abundant multicoloured flowers bringing life to any bocage hedge or shrub border. In a border, for example, it can be paired with Abelia, variegated Japanese spindle trees, Kerria japonica, Viburnum carlesii, mahonias, hydrangeas, variegated dogwoods, pink or white spiraeas, ornamental brambles, or even a hedge honeysuckle. In the background, the very dark foliage of hollies or yews will create a beautiful setting for its generous flowering and provide winter appeal.