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Weigela belongs to the Honeysuckle family. The distribution area is the Far East, Sakhalin, Siberia. Occurs on the edges of cedar thickets, on rocky slopes, along the banks of water bodies. Wild varieties have formed the basis of numerous varieties. Weigela Nana Variegata is a hybrid cultural representative created for landscape design.
Description of Weigela Nana Variegat
Weigela Nana Variegata is a low deciduous shrub created for growing in temperate regions. The hybrid is less resistant to frost than the wild species taken as a basis. Without damage to the root system, it tolerates a drop in temperature to -30 0C. The indicator is not bad, but without insulation, young seedlings are unlikely to overwinter.
The plant has high drought resistance. Can go without water for a long period. Low air humidity is perceived by shrubs normally; moisture deficit is not reflected in the decorative habit. A high rate can lead to the development of bacterial or fungal infections.
Weigela Variegata grows slowly, the growth of the culture is insignificant, no more than 20 cm per year. Hybrid forms bloom earlier than varietal representatives - in the fourth year of the growing season. At 5 years old, the culture is considered an adult, it no longer gives rise in height. It belongs to perennial plants, the biological cycle of the weigela Nana Variegat is 35 years.
Description of weigela Nana Variegat (pictured):
- The shrub is formed by numerous dark brown shoots. It reaches a height of 1.5 m, the shape of the crown is broadly oval, the diameter is up to 2 m. The bush is spreading, the tops of the shoots are slightly lowered.
- Ornamental shrub, densely leafy. Leaves with an unusual color: the central part is dark green, along the edge of the beige stripe. Each drawing on a separate sheet plate is unique. The leaves of the plant are oppositely located, finely toothed along the edge with a sharp top, with a net of veins and the absence of a petiole.
- The root system is superficial, mixed, widely spreading to the sides.
- Seed capsules are small, contain two seeds with lionfish.
How Weigela Variegatnaya blooms
Weigela blooming Nana Variegata forms the buds of the first flowering on the shoots of the last year. The shrub blooms for a long time, begins in early June and ends in mid-July. The second wave of flowering begins from August to September, flowers are formed at the ends of the shoots of the current season.
According to the flowering time, the hybrid is medium, in the garden it immediately replaces the faded lilac. The pause between flowering is insignificant, about two weeks, at this time the leaves with a variegated unusual color give decorative effect to the weigel.
The plant forms large buds - up to 4 cm long, deep pink, collected 3-5 pieces per inflorescence.The flowers are bright pink with a slight purple tint, funnel-shaped bell-shaped. Coloring varies from lighter whites to darker (depending on lighting). The decorativeness of weigela Nana Variegata directly depends on ultraviolet radiation, the more heat and light, the brighter the color of the habit. The aroma of the flowers is light, with subtle sweet notes.
The use of weigela Nana Variegat in landscape design
The hybrid was created for the design of personal plots, gardens, for landscaping squares, parks, urban neighborhoods. The long flowering time and decorative crown make the shrub desirable in the most sophisticated gardens, decorated with modern design trends. Several examples with photos of the use of Nana Variegat's weigela in design are presented below.
Composition with conifers as a foreground accent.
At the edge of the forest.
On the sides of the garden path.
As a tapeworm in the center of a flower bed.
Nana Variegata as a decoration for the central part of the lawn.
Framing the banks of an artificial reservoir.
To add a touch of wilderness to the back of the garden next to the bench.
In mass planting to obtain hedges that delimit the zones of the garden.
Weigela Nana Variegata gets along well with any flora, except for junipers. There is a risk of rust spreading to the leaves.
When deciding on the design of the territory, the varietal characteristics of the Nana Variegata hybrid must be taken into account.
How the hybrid weigela Nana Variegata reproduces
Reviews of gardeners with experience in growing weigela Nana Variegat are ambiguous. Many consider the plant to be quite capricious in reproduction. Like all representatives of non-varietal species, Nana Variegata does not reproduce seeds. If the cultivars give a sufficient amount of root growth, which is quite suitable as a planting material, then the Nana Variegat hybrid has practically no growth.
The most guaranteed option to breed a Nana Variegata hybrid on the site is to purchase three-year-old seedlings in a nursery. After two years, layering can be made from the lower branch; work is carried out in the spring before the leaves appear. Bend the stem to the soil, cover it with earth. Plots can be planted next spring. For the winter, the layers must be covered.
The method of grafting is less often used, it is less productive, since the survival rate of the planting material of the Nana Variegata weigela is low. Cuttings are cut from last year's shoots in August, 15 cm long. They are placed in wet sand until spring, in the middle of summer, cuttings can be placed on the territory. By the fall, the degree of survival of the material will be visible.
Planting and caring for weigela Nana Variegata
Planting and agricultural techniques for the weigela Nana Variegat are ordinary, requiring no additional skills. The culture is quite unpretentious to care for. Weigela Nana Variegata does not lose its decorative effect for many years.
Recommended timing
Planting dates depend on the growing region. Weigela blooming Nana Variegata - a hybrid with medium frost resistance (climatic zone - 5) in the South can be planted in spring, when the soil has warmed up to +8 0C. In a warm subtropical climate, an autumn planting is suitable - a month before the temperature drops, approximately in October. In the temperate climate zone, autumn planting is not considered, if the weigela weakly takes root, the plant will die before spring. The culture is planted in the spring in late April - early May.
Site selection and soil preparation
The culture does not react well to the influence of the north wind; when choosing a place for the Nana Variegata weigela, areas that are closed from drafts, for example, the south side behind the wall of a building, are suitable. The plant feels comfortable on the southern and eastern slopes, on a flat area, as well as in the company of flowering shrubs that do not shade the weigela.
For vegetation, shrubs need light sandy loam soils with a fertile composition and satisfactory drainage. The soil is neutral or slightly acidic. If the soils are acidic, dolomite flour is added to them. Prepare a place, dig up, add organic matter, superphosphate, urea, ash.
How to plant correctly
Before planting, make a mixture consisting of soil, compost, sand, peat in equal parts. For 8 kg add 250 g of wood ash and 150 g of mineral fertilizers.
Landing:
- Dig a hole 65 cm deep and 60 cm in diameter.
- Small gravel or crushed stone of a coarse fraction is placed on the bottom.
- A layer of the mixture is poured on top, from which a cone-shaped embankment is made in the center.
- A seedling is placed in the center on the resulting hill, covered with a small layer of soil. They are tamped, poured to the edge of the pit.
- Watering, mulching.
Growing rules
Caring for a young seedling of weigela Nana Variegata after planting does not differ from the agricultural technique of any flowering shrub. Subject to certain rules, the hybrid will give 2 flowering and retain the bright color of the leaves until autumn.
Watering
Weigela is a drought-resistant crop that tolerates dry root soil more easily than excess moisture. An adult plant is watered with a large volume of water before bud formation. The next watering is carried out at the time of flowering. In late summer, watering should be moderate. All these measures are relevant in dry summers. If the amount of seasonal rainfall is normal, the weigela is not watered. In the first year of seedling growth, the near-stem circle is kept moist, preventing excess water.
Top dressing
After planting, the nutrient mixture in the hole will have enough weigel for 3 years. The shrub is not fed; a weakly concentrated organic solution can be added in the spring. An adult plant is scattered around the trunk circle with urea and potassium-containing agents. During the formation of the buds of the first wave of flowering, superphosphate is introduced, in August weigela Nana Variegata is fed with organic fertilizers.
Loosening, mulching
For seedlings of weigela Nana Variegata, up to 2 years of vegetation, after each watering or precipitation, the soil is loosened. At this time, the plant forms a root system, therefore, a sufficient amount of oxygen is needed. No crust formation is allowed. Weeds are removed at the same time, weeds must not be allowed to grow - this is the main place for the accumulation and growth of fungal spores.
Mulching the Nana Variegat hybrid is carried out immediately after planting. By autumn, the covering layer is increased. In the spring, the material is replaced with a new one. Shredded bark is used for mulch in spring. The material retains moisture well, allows air to pass through, and looks aesthetically pleasing. In autumn, straw and needles are used.
Pruning, crown shaping
Weigela Nana Variegata with a spreading crown, densely leafy, completely covered with delicate flowers. The unusual color of the leaves only adds decorative effect, so the shrub is not formed, leaving it in its natural form. In the spring, they carry out sanitary pruning of dry shoots that have died during the winter. Cut off the inflorescences after flowering. The shrub is rejuvenated once every two years. The procedure is carried out after the second flowering. Several old shoots are removed. In the spring, the weigela will form a substitution.
Preparing for winter
Weigela Nana Variegata is a hybrid characterized by relative winter hardiness, but it is not left without shelter at low temperatures. Activities are relevant for young seedlings and adult shrubs. Preparing for winter weigela Nana Variegata:
- An adult plant is watered abundantly.
- A young seedling is huddled, the layer of mulch is increased for all age groups.
- The branches are neatly pulled to the center, fixed with twine.
- They are bent to the ground, I install arcs, and the covering material is attached to them.
- Cover with spruce branches from above.
- In winter, they cover the spruce branches with snow.
Pests and diseases
Hybrid varieties differ from cultivars in a more resistant immunity to infection.Weigela Nana Variegata practically does not get sick. With high humidity and prolonged precipitation, mealy growth may appear. The fungus is eliminated with Bordeaux liquid.
Of the garden pests on the Nana Variegata hybrid, aphids and spider mites parasitize. Effective pest control agents: "Nitrofen" and "Keltan". For prophylaxis, bears are brought under the root "Karbofos".
Conclusion
Weigela Nana Variegata is an ornamental flowering perennial resulting from hybridization of wild-growing varieties. A culture was created for use in landscaping urban areas and household plots. The plant is unpretentious to care for, frost-resistant, does without water for a long time. Differs in exotic color of leaves and abundant flowering 2 times per season.
