Weigela Minuet

Weigela 'Minuet' is a highly floriferous variety, flowering mainly in late spring, then blooming again in summer until September. It is covered with deep pink flowers that contrast nicely with its green foliage. With a very compact and bushy growth habit, this easy-to-grow shrub can be planted in a countryside or romantic setting, as well as in a small flowering hedge or border, and of course in a large pot on the terrace.

Originating from northern China, Japan, and Korea, Weigela florida is a deciduous shrub belonging to the Caprifoliaceae family, along with Abelia, Snowberry, and Honeysuckle, among others. This calcicolous (preferring calcareous soils) shrub has a fibrous and spreading root system, which tolerates transplantation perfectly. It has given rise, through hybridisation with other Weigela species, to numerous horticultural varieties, including the 'Minuet' cultivar.

'Minuet' is a very compact Weigela with a rather slow growth, eventually forming a ball shape of about 70 cm (28in) in all directions. The young shoots start off purple and then turn to a more or less dark green with some bronze nuances. This deciduous foliage is composed of sessile, pubescent leaves that are oval to elliptical in shape. Its funnel-shaped flowers are very attractive with their deep pink colour, and they open up to reveal white stamens that contrast with the corolla. They are borne in corymbs at the ends of the branches and bloom in successive waves from spring to September. The main flowering occurs in May-June, followed by additional blooms throughout the summer. The flowers are nectar-rich but do not produce fruits, and the plant does not exhaust itself as it tirelessly continues to flower. This miniature shrub adapts to most neutral to calcareous soils, including clay soils. It grows best in full sun or partial shade, in well-drained soil that is not too dry in summer. It is generally free from diseases or insect attacks and requires little maintenance.

Weigela 'Minuet' is one of those easy-to-grow shrubs that thrive in most regions, except for the hottest and driest ones. Its compact and rounded habit makes it an ideal shrub for terrace decoration when planted in a decorative pot. It can also be used for low borders and is perfect as a foreground plant in a flower bed. It can be accompanied by other accommodating plants, such as Forsythia x intermedia Mindor, which has a long yellow flowering season in early spring (March-April). The beautiful Deutzia hybride Raspberry Sundae will then take over with its romantic pinkish-purple and white flowers. And to end the season in style, a beautiful Lagerstroemia indica Black Solitaire Pure White, with its pure white flowers and almost black foliage, will create a stunning contrast as a background for our little Weigela.