Weigelia Candida

The Weigelia Candida is a vigorous shrub that is part of the great classics of flowering hedges and large landscaped beds in many French regions. Easy to grow in a fresh soil, of beautiful stature, perfectly hardy, it offers a multitude of white flowers from the end of spring, in funnel shape, rather large for the genus, which are renewed until the heart of summer. This flowering is all the more graceful as it covers slightly arched branches and the shrub, a sterile hybrid, does not exhaust itself in bearing fruits. The autumn colours of the foliage, tinged with ochre and purple, revive the large beds.

The Weigelia Candida comes from, among others, the Weigela florida, native to northeast China, Korea, and Japan. Weigelas are Asian and belong to the Caprifoliaceae family, just like honeysuckles. 'Candida' is a lime-loving shrub (preferring limestone soils) that develops a fibrous and trailing root system, which perfectly supports transplantation. It has a bushy habit and ultimately forms a large, branched bush with branches initially erect, bending with time. Its growth is rapid in fresh soil, reaching at maturity approximately 2.50 m in height and 2 meters in width. Its funnel-shaped flowers, large compared to the type, are pure white. They are borne in corymbs, at the end of the previous year's branches, and bloom abundantly from May to June, then more sporadically in July. Its deciduous foliage consists of light and vivid green, non-petiolate, pubescent leaves on the underside, oval in shape, taking on beautiful colours towards the end of the season.

Hardy down to -20°C, the Weigelia 'Candida' thrives in sunny or semi-shaded positions, in a fresh but well-drained soil. Its arching and vigorous habit makes it a very ornamental shrub, whose abundant and candid flowering, far from being sad, enlivens any hedgerow throughout the summer. In a bed, for example, give it companions such as Elaeanus pungens 'Maculata', Kerria japonica, Viburnum carlesii, mahonias, Hydrangea, variegated cornioli, spiraeas, ornamental brambles, or even a Ribes gordonianum. In the background, the very dark foliage of hollies or yews will form a beautiful setting for its bright flowering and ensure the winter decor.