Old-fashioned Weigela 'Ruby Queen'

Weigela 'Ruby Queen' (Weigela 'Ruby Queen' PBR) is the queen of wine shades. The foliage is dark, purple-bronze, almost chocolate, and against it open funnel-shaped flowers in a ruby-pink tone. The contrast is strong enough that the shrub works as a colour accent even when it is not in bloom.

Dark-leaved weigelas are planted as a contrasting patch in a mixed border, as a low group beside a path, in a foundation planting or in a patio container. Flowering falls in late spring and early summer. Leaf colour depends on light: in full sun the tone is at its deepest, while in shade it visibly fades.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: Weigela flowers are a generous source of nectar: in their homeland they draw hummingbirds, and in our gardens they gather bees and bumblebees.
• Hardiness: Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4).
• Flowering: From April to June pink funnel-shaped flowers open.
• Light: Full sun; it tolerates light dappled shade, but flowering and leaf colour weaken there.
• Soil: It takes any garden soil easily, moderately moist and well-drained, clay included.
• Watering: Even, medium watering, with no standing water in the root zone.
• Care: It asks for very little: shape it right after flowering, and it roots readily from stem cuttings.
• Landscape use: Lovely in a border, a low group beside a path, a foundation planting, a container and a hedge.