Old-fashioned Weigela 'Rubidor'

Weigela 'Rubidor' (Weigela BRIANT RUBIDOR, cultivar name 'Olympiade') offers a contrast that is hard to look away from. The leaves are golden yellow, sometimes with a green stripe down the middle and a very fine reddish edge, and against that bright ground the dark red funnel-shaped bells simply blaze.

Use it wherever a dark corner needs lighting up: in a mixed border, in a relaxed cottage-style garden, at a woodland edge or along a boundary. A mature bush makes 1.5-2 m in height and as much across. Unlike the green-leaved weigelas, this one prefers light dappled shade - in scorching sun the golden foliage burns.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: The RHS lists 'Rubidor' as a variegated cultivar: the golden leaves now and then carry a green stripe along the central vein.
• Dimensions: In 5-10 years it forms a bush 1.5-2 m tall and 1.5-2 m wide.
• Hardiness: Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4).
• Flowering: From late May to June dark red funnel-shaped flowers open.
• Light: Partial shade or light dappled sun: in scorching sun the golden foliage burns.
• Soil: Fertile, moderately moist, well-drained soil; it takes happily to chalk, clay, loam and sand.
• Watering: Even, medium watering - no drying out and no standing water.
• Care: Prune right after flowering (RHS group 2), and rejuvenate old bushes in early spring.
• Landscape use: A colour accent in a mixed border, an informal garden, a group planting, a woodland edge or along a boundary.