In the Spotlight: Red Prince Wiegela

Light:

Sun, Part Sun (likely won't get a second flush of blooms in part sun)

Zones:

4-9

Plant Type:

Shrub

Plant Height:

3-6 feet tall

Plant Width:

3-6 feet wide

Landscape Uses:

Feature shrub, beds

Special Features:

Flowers, Attractive Foliage,Tubular Flowers Attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies, Drought Tolerant Once Established, Easy to Grow, Arching Branch Habit

This shrub is a little beauty in the garden, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds.  Hardy in zones 4-9, snow cover is essential in winter.  Even so, mine died right back over the winter and came back from the root.  The good news is the root system is pretty hardy!  

Once established, it is pretty drought tolerant but don't neglect it during the heat of summer. Continue a healthy watering routine, not allowing the soil to  dry to the point of cracking (I like the two knuckle rule) right through to freeze up to build an ice block which will help prevent problems with freeze and thaw in the spring and will slowly melt to provide moisture as the snow disappears.  

Prune after the second flush of blooms (provided it is in full sun) as the wiegela blooms in spring (June here in Edmonton) and will follow with sporadic blossoms thereafter.  The first bloom is the best show.  Do not prune directly afterwards if you can avoid it.

Since mine died right back and came back from the root and from the lowest stems on two plants respectively, I had to cut it back severely early in May which cost the shrub significant height but one is about to burst into blooms, while the other which is shaded a bit from a hydrangea planted directly in front of it, is not blooming.  The photos above are of the one plant which is in direct sunlight on the east side of the house.

We moved in last February so I can only assume the severe dieback likely resulted from insufficient water in the fall.  It is considered hardy to zone 4 though and this last winter was long with a significant amount of snow.  Perhaps it was too harsh for the wiegelas.

Wiegelas will benefit from an application of a good quality all purpose fertilizer in the spring once growth has begun. Never fertilize after August 15 in zones 3/4.