Weigela (Weigela 'Rumba')
Weigela 'Rumba' is a compact, low-maintenance deciduous shrub offering profuse red and yellow-throated flowers from June to September.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Weigela ‘Rumba’ is a highly valued deciduous shrub prized specifically for its extended bloom season and manageable size. This specific cultivar provides a dense, rounded form that fits well into smaller garden spaces while delivering a spectacle of color from early summer well into fall. Its appeal lies in the vibrant contrast between its foliage and the wine-red, funnel-shaped flowers featuring a noticeable yellow throat.
As a member of the Weigela genus, this plant is renowned for being robust and easy to cultivate, making it an excellent choice for gardeners seeking beauty without demanding intensive care. It matures into a neat, compact specimen, typically reaching just 3 feet high, making it versatile for various landscape applications. For optimal performance and the most colorful display, Weigela ‘Rumba’ requires dedication to its sun needs.
Gardeners appreciate the low maintenance requirement coupled with the extended flowering period of Weigela ‘Rumba’. Whether serving as a front-of-border anchor or functioning effectively as a low hedge, this shrub brings consistent texture and reliable color to the mixed perennial or shrub border throughout the warmest months.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Caprifoliaceae
- Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 2.5-3 ft
- Spread: 3-4 ft
- Bloom Time: June to September
- Bloom Description: Red with yellow throat
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
The best time for planting Weigela ‘Rumba’ is generally in spring or fall, allowing the roots time to establish before extreme temperatures hit. Ensure placement is in a location receiving full sun, as this is critical for maximizing its profuse flowering potential; while it tolerates very light shade, blooms will be significantly reduced. Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils, this shrub is quite adaptable to poorer conditions, including clay soils.
Provide medium water—consistent moisture during establishment and dry spells is ideal, though it handles average garden watering schedules well once mature. Fertilizing is rarely required for Weigela; excessive feeding can encourage leafy growth at the expense of flowers. The most important cultural practice is pruning.
Prune Weigela ‘Rumba’ to shape immediately after its main flowering flush concludes in mid-summer. Avoid heavy pruning late in the season or in winter, as this removes the wood that would otherwise bear spring blooms. Light trims throughout the summer help maintain its compact, rounded form.
Landscape Uses
Weigela ‘Rumba’ excels in positions where a tidy, compact size is beneficial, such as in foundation plantings that require minimal shearing over time. Its neat habit also makes it an effective specimen or grouping plant nestled within shrub borders, providing dependable color against contrasting evergreens.
If a low, formal boundary is desired, Weigela shines as a hedge option. Its dense branching structure, combined with continuous blooming, creates an attractive visual screen that doesn’t overwhelm space like larger cultivars. Consider pairing the deep tones of the flowers with silver-leaved companions or bright chartreuse foliage for dynamic contrast.
This variety can also be incorporated into mixed borders alongside perennials that appreciate similar sun and moisture levels, offering structure when herbaceous plants die back. The compact spread ensures it won’t aggressively crowd out neighbors.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Weigela is a genus of about 12 species of deciduous shrubs originating from East Asia, traditionally grown for their striking spring flowers. The genus name honors Christian Ehrenfried Weigel, a German professor. Weigela ‘Rumba’ is specifically a compact, densely rounded shrub reaching about 3 feet high with a similar spread, grown primarily for its copious, funnel-shaped, wine-red flowers with yellow throats. Bloom occurs heavily in June-July, followed by an intermittent, less showy repeat often seen throughout the remainder of the summer.
Tolerances
- Clay Soil
Potential Problems
This cultivar benefits gardeners by exhibiting no serious insect or disease problems under normal growing conditions. General preventative measures, such as maintaining good air circulation by avoiding overly tight plantings, are good practice. If pests like aphids appear, mild insecticidal soap is usually sufficient for management.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Weigela ‘Rumba’ suitable for?
Weigela ‘Rumba’ thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8, providing reliable perennial interest across a wide range of climates.
How large does Weigela ‘Rumba’ grow?
This compact shrub matures to a height between 2.5 and 3 feet tall and spreads consistently between 3 and 4 feet wide, maintaining a rounded shape.
When does Weigela ‘Rumba’ bloom?
The primary bloom period for Weigela ‘Rumba’ spans from June into September, featuring beautiful red flowers accented with a yellow throat.
What sun exposure does Weigela ‘Rumba’ need?
This shrub performs best when situated in full sun, which encourages the most prolific flowering; however, it can tolerate very light shade.
Companion Planting
When designing a border around Weigela ‘Rumba’, select plants that share similar needs for full sun and medium moisture. Consider pairing it with silver-leaved plants, such as Artemisia or Lamb’s Ears (Stachys byzantina), to make the red blooms visually ‘pop.’ Early-season blooming perennials like Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica) can take over the color display before the Weigela begins its long summer show.
For foundation plantings or low screening, use contrasting textures. Fine-textured evergreens that remain compact, such as certain dwarf globe cedars, serve as excellent year-round anchors next to the deciduous structure of your Weigela. Ensure companion plants do not aggressively outcompete this 3-foot shrub for water or nutrients.
Seasonal Care Calendar
For Spring preparation, gently clean up any winter debris from around the base of your Weigela as new growth begins to emerge. If the shrub is very old or dense, a light thinning of the oldest stems (rejuvenation pruning) can be done now to encourage fresh interior growth.
Summer is the critical maintenance window for Weigela. Immediately after the main June/July bloom subsides, perform any necessary shaping cuts to maintain the desired rounded form. Monitor watering, ensuring medium moisture during hot, dry periods to support continuous flowering.
In Autumn, avoid applying new fertilizer, as this encourages tender growth susceptible to winter damage. Allow the shrub to harden off naturally. If you live in the colder edge of Zone 4, applying a heavy layer of mulch around the base after the ground freezes helps insulate the roots throughout winter.
Conclusion
The Weigela ‘Rumba’ offers gardeners the unique combination of low maintenance, manageable stature, and an exceptionally long flowering season highlighted by striking red and yellow blooms. Its adaptability, evidenced by its tolerance for clay soil and wide hardiness range (Zones 4-8), makes this shrub a reliable backbone element. Assess your site conditions regarding sun exposure and plan your initial planting during the cooler months to best establish your beautiful Weigela ‘Rumba’.
