Weigela florida ‘Alexandra’ WINE AND ROSES®

purpleleaf weigela

  • © Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks

Outstanding Qualities

Dark burgundy purple shiny-foliage makes this deciduous shrub a knock-out in the garden. In early spring, its foliage emerges green flushed with purple and quickly takes on its deeper burgundy tones. In early summer, the foliage is complimented with rich rosy-red trumpet shaped flowers which line the shrub's gracefully arching stems. WINE & ROSES® weigela is a medium-sized shrub that is great for adding drama to perennial plantings by adding both height and wonderfully contrasting foliage. Hummingbirds find the flowers irresistible! The flowers and foliage hold up surprisingly well when cut for the vase.

Quick Facts

Plant Type: shrub

Growth Habit: mounding

Foliage Type: deciduous

Plant Height (10-year): 5 ft. 0 in. (1.52 meters)

Plant Width/Spread (10-year): 5 ft. 0 in. (1.52 meters)

Plant Height-Mature: 0 ft. 0 in. (0 meters)

Plant Width-Mature: 0 ft. 0 in. (0 meters)

Hardiness: USDA Zones 5 to 9

Flower Color: rose

Flowering Time: spring

Sun/Light Exposure: full sun

Water Requirements: occasional watering

Seasonal Interest: purple foliage & early summer flowers

Wildlife Associations: bees, hummingbirds

Colors & Combos

Great Plant Combinations:

Great Color Contrasts: variegated, silver, gold

Great Color Partners: burgundy, purple, pink

Culture Notes

This weigela is easy to grow. It prefers a moist to well-drained soil and will tolerate sandy or clay conditions. Plant it in a location with full sun to light or open shade. The foliage will be the deepest color with more sun. Once established it needs only occasional watering during dry weather to look its best. Very little pruning is required when the plant is young. Once this weigela is well established, older twiggy stems and weak shoots should be removed after flowering. This will encourage the vigorous new growth that provides the best show.

Geek Notes

Plant Patent #10772 to Herman Geers, Boskoop, Netherlands, inventor and Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc., Grand Haven, Michigan, assignee, 1997 under the cultivar name 'Alexandra'. WINE AND ROSES is the registered trademark name being used for marketing. Winner of the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society Gold Medal Plant Award for 2000.