Weigela florida "All Summer Monet", 9 cm pot

• Type: deciduous flowering shrub
• Botanical name: Weigela florida 'All Summer Monet'
• Height and spread: 50–80 cm / 50–80 cm
• Flowering: from late spring; main flush May–June, scattered blooms into autumn; pink bells
• Foliage: dark green with white margin and pink flush (strongest in spring), yellow in autumn
• Light: sun or light shade, sheltered from wind
• Soil: fertile, loose, moist but well-drained
• Hardiness: RHS H6, roughly USDA 5; sheltered spot and cover for first winters in Estonia
• Pruning: right after the first flowering – flowers on last year's shoots
• Use: edgings, front of mixed borders, rock gardens, containers
• Size: potted plant

Planting. Weigela wants a sunny or lightly shaded spot sheltered from cold winds – by a south- or west-facing wall or among other shrubs. The soil should be fertile, loose and moist but free-draining; on heavy clay, drainage is essential. Dig a 50×50 cm hole with compost in the bottom and do not bury the root collar. In Estonia spring and early summer are the best planting times, so the plant can root well before winter; space plants at their mature width.

Watering and feeding. Water regularly in the first year and in dry spells – 10 L per plant once a week. Feed in spring with a balanced fertiliser and in early summer with a phosphorus-potassium feed for flowering; give no nitrogen after July so the shoots ripen before winter. A 5–7 cm mulch keeps moisture in and insulates the roots.

Care. Weigela forms its flower buds on last year's shoots, so the main pruning is done right after the first flowering: cut faded branches back to strong young shoots and every 3–4 years remove the oldest stems at the base. In spring just remove frost-damaged tips. In a harsh Estonian winter the shoot tips can be nipped – the shrub recovers quickly; mulch the root area in autumn. Low variegated cultivars are best given extra cover of spruce branches or fleece for their first 2–3 winters.

Gardener's tip. The pink tint of 'All Summer Monet' is brightest on young growth, so lightly shorten the shoots after the first flowering – the shrub will push out fresh variegated leaves and possibly new flowers.